The weather gods must really love the Long Lake Triathlon.

In the five years since the event became an annual tradition again, not one drop of rain has fallen, including Sunday's competition, which featured sunny skies and warm temperatures.

"The weather was awesome," said Rick Janowicz, organizer of this year's Long Lake Triathlon. "It was a wonderful turnout and I am optimistic about the future for the event."

There was no shortage of sponsors for this year's triathlon, which included Coast Mountain Sports, Polar Swim Shop, Icycle sport and Philippe's Bicycle Shop.

In previous years, the triathlon has averaged around 30 participants, but this year's numbers were up to 36. The fee was $20 per person, which included a race garment of a pair of Sockguy unisex socks, which were valued at $15 each.

The registration fee also includes a post race BBQ as well as draw prizes, which are being donated by the event's sponsors. Draw prizes were given to both participants and volunteers. One of the prizes included a triathlon suit from the Polar Swim Shop, which was worth around $150.

The top finisher in each race category also won a customized Long Lake Triathlon trophy, This year's individual and team trophies were a Yukon Gold bottle of beer with an up side down green beer cap, which resembled a crown.

Sunday's race began at 10:30 a.m. at the Long Lake boat launch area.

The first discipline was a one-km swim, which included participants swimming to the east end of the lake before turning around and swimming back to the boat launch.

The second challenge was a 15.5-km mountain bike race. The mountain bike segment featured a few hills and eventually looped back to the boat launch area for the final portion of the triathlon.

The triathlon's running discipline was a total distance of six-km. It featured two three-km loops that both start and end at the boat launch.

Category winners at the triathlon included Joel Macht, who finished with a time of 1:40:14 in the open men's division. Macht's time was more than six minutes faster than the runner up category in the open category, which was Rocky Lis.

Tim Sellars finished with the best individual time at the event at 1:38:22. This was a personal best time for Sellars, who competed in the master's men's category.

This was the fifth Long Lake Triathlon for Sellars and he said he always enjoys competing in the race.

"It's my favourite event of the year. This is a fantastic race and the weather was ideal today," he said. "It really showcases the beauty and the terrain of the Yukon."

He said he faced tough competition from Macht throughout the entire triathlon.

"There was some major challengers today," Sellars said. "Joel Macht, who is someone I am always competing with in the triathlons, we were quite close again this year, he was on my tail the whole time and I could almost feel him breathing down my neck."

Sellars said the event couldn't happen without the help of the volunteers.

"I would just like to thank the volunteers and hope to see even more people out next year for the event," he said. "This is a marquee event for the Yukon and it's definitely under publicized."

Ken Slyvestre's time of 2:01:20 earned him top honours in the men's masters plus category, while Sierra Van de Meer finished in first place in the open women's category. Her time was 2:16:09, which was more than four minutes faster than second place finisher Jessica Boucher.

Leslie Gomm won bragging rights in the master women's division, posting a time of 2:22:45, while Christine Paradis won the master women's plus category, finishing the race at 2:23:41.

Ho-FM, a visiting team from the Czech Republic, won the open mixed team event.

The group finished with a time of 1:43:17 and were made up of swimmer, Eva Kanova, cyclist Jan Glac and runner, Pavel Hybner.

Hybner said he was glad they participated at the triathlon.

"It was a nice day and it was a pleasure to join the locals."

The open women's was won by JAC, which finished the triathlon at 1:47:38.

Nadele's Flynns came in second at 2:11:04. Nadele Flynn competed in the swimming discipline at Sunday's competition and is currently training for the Subaru Ironman Canada Triathlon, which is being held at the end of August in Penticton, B.C.

Flynn qualified for the Ironman Canada triathlon after she placed in the top three in the 33 to 39 age category in a B.C. race back in June.

The Subaru Ironman Canada Triathlon includes a 3.8-km swim, 180-km bike ride and 42.2-km run. Flynn has been training since last Fall and said races like the Long Lake Triathlon are a big help in preparing for an ironman triathlon.

"It's sort of something that you have to prepare for for a year, so it kind of helps just general all-around fitness and then have that sort of as the ultimate goal."

She said she enjoyed participating at the Long Lake Triathlon.

"It's just a great event and really well attended," Flynn said. "Everyone is super-keen and friendly and it's just a great supportive atmosphere."

Flynn finished the Long Lake swim at 17:04.

Sausage Factory took first place in the masters men's division with an impressive time of 1:47:38, while Monique and Jean won the masters women's category, finishing the race at 2:32:26.

Monique Levesque competed in the swimming event, finishing at 22:57. She said anyone is capable of competing in the triathlon.

"It's a really nice circuit and they are all trails that we have right here in Whitehorse," Levesque said. "It's nice to enjoy them in a different way."