Empire State Winter Games Hosts 2026 Winter Triathlon National Championships
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – On a brisk and sunny morning at historic Mt. Van Hoevenberg, in Lake Placid, the USA Triathlon Winter National Championships kicked off the 2026 Empire State Winter Games.
Athletes from across the country ran a snowy 5k (3.1 miles), followed by an 8k (5-mile) fat-tire bike ride, and finished their race with a 10k (6.2-mile) cross-country ski.
Stephen Eles (Boulder, Colo.) took first place not just in his age category of males aged 45-49, but for the race overall. Eles finished the morning with an official time of 1 hour, 10 minutes, 48 seconds, two gold medals around his neck, and a new title of 2026 USA Winter Triathlon National Champion.
Adam Holomoucky, (Westminster, Colo.), 26, was second overall with a time of 1:14:07. He was followed closely by Thomas Woods (Lincoln, Neb.), 25, who finished in 1:15:31, and in third place.
Ginger Reiner (Lincoln, Mass.), 48, earned herself a women’s national title, crossing the finish line first out of her age group and all female triathletes. Reiner finished with a time of 1:24:52.
The silver medal went to Anna Milkowski (Montpelier, Vt.), 51, who had a final time of 1:26:24. Kristie Morton (West Sand Lake, N.Y.), 39, rounded out the women’s podium with a time of 1:27:47.
Suzy Mink (Washington, D.C.) was the first-place finisher for females ages 70-74 despite never having competed in the event before. She described the race environment as almost Olympic.
“It’s so encouraging. The minute I got the email about USA Triathlon doing this race, I was like I’m there. It’s Lake Placid. I have to go do this,” said Mink.
Mink, 73, who was one of 52 runners to carry the 1980 Olympic Winter Games torch from Virginia to Lake Placid, in time for the Games’ Opening Ceremony, lit the cauldron during last night’s Empire State Winter Games’ Opening Ceremony. Even with her gold medal today, it was last night’s triumph that meant the most to her.
“It was a thrill, a total thrill to do that and to put on the uniform I wore 46 years ago, carrying the torch to Lake Placid was probably the most special thing that could happen.”
Both Eles and Reiner also placed first in the duathlon race, which took place later this afternoon. Eles finished in 49:16 and Reiner in 58:59.
National championship winners qualified for the 2027 Winter World Championships. Complete triathlon results are available HERE. Duathlon results can be found HERE.
For more information about the Empire State Winter Games, go to https://empirestatewintergames.com/.
Fans and athletes can also follow on Facebook, Instagram, and X, using @ESWGames and #ESWGames.
Photos of the 46th Annual Empire State Winter Games can be found HERE.