Submitted Photo Beth Kopay is pictured at the Big Fish Triathlon at Lakeside Park in Mayville on Saturday. Kopay was presented with the Rose Award.

MAYVILLE — The Big Fish Triathlon returned for its eighth annual race Saturday at Lakeside Park.

One-hundred twenty-nine athletes completed the Olympic and Sprint distance swim, bike and run. Ryan Lawrence and Melinda Lawson-Crabtree were the first overall male and female competitors in the Olympic distance race while Dan Pierce and Cheryl Burns led the Sprint finishers.

A special award was presented to Beth Kopay. The Rose Award is given each in memory of Rose Billquist, who also completed her first triathlon at the Big Fish. Kopay is a first-time finisher who has spent past years volunteering at the Big Fish event.

The 2021 event raised $18,000 to support Camp Onyahsa’s week of camping for children with Type 1 diabetes. During their stay, children get to enjoy all the camps fun traditional activities, in addition to enhanced health care from a specialized team of nurses, pharmacists, pump experts and counselors who provide supervision and allow the parents one week out of the year to relax with the knowledge that their children are in a safe environment away from home.

Thanks to this event, one week of day camping is available to area youth, ages 7-15, with Type 1 diabetes at no charge from Aug. 1-6. Space in the program remain and interested families should contact the Camp Onyahsa office at office@onyahsa.org or 664-2802, ext. 238 for more information or to enroll.

Dr. Robert Berke, race director, and the Triathlon Coalition thanked all of the triathletes for their participation and gave a special thank you to all of the event sponsors for their generous donations. Organizers also thanked the 80 volunteers, including the sheriff’s department and dive team who helped made this event possible.