In Canada, October is usually about Thanksgiving, falling leaves and trick-or-treating. But for some Canadian triathletes, the racing season is still very much alive. And it’s Fitspeek’s job to make sure they don’t get overlooked!
Here’s the Fitspeek Top 5 Canadian Triathletes for October — and there’s not a turkey in the bunch.
Kiyan Sunderji
Time for a career change? Not so fast!
On a day that gave every Canadian pro (Hoel, Findlay, Jewett, Fauteaux) a great learning experience, it was a recent University of Calgary graduate who delivered the goods on the Queen K. The reigning Ironman Canada champion backed up his summer success with a victory in the 18-24 age-group division in Kona.
Sunderji took a cautious approach to the race. He spent hours heat training on the bike trainer while wearing a sweatshirt and arrived in Kona 10 days early to adapt to the island’s heat and humidity. On race day, his secret weapon wasn’t a lethal bike split or a devastating run. It was patience, and his splits reflected that approach. He didn’t record the fastest swim, bike, or run in his age group, but when the three disciplines were combined, they gave him a four-minute cushion over his nearest competitor.
Sunderji is also taking a cautious approach to his career in the sport. Rather than jump straight into the professional ranks, he is taking his time as an age grouper to continue improving and, just as importantly, to have fun. As he says, “It’s special winning races, crossing the finish line first, having lead vehicles out on course, and experiencing the media attention and support from everyone cheering you on. I know that once I move into the professional field, those moments will be much harder to come by.”
For now, Sunderji will remain in Calgary, working in the family business while focusing on his swim to set himself up for an even better 2027.
Kimberley Walter
Secondly, we come to another Alberta athlete making a Kona debut.
While the roads around her hometown of Beaumont, Alberta, may not resemble the legendary Queen K Highway, Kimberley Walter made the transition to the Big Island remarkably well.
Just how well? She uncorked a sub-five-hour bike split, covering the course in 4:59:56. That was followed by a strong 3:22 marathon that helped put a difficult swim firmly in the rearview mirror. Her 9:45 also highlighted just how competitive the F35–39 age group was. Walter finished about 15 minutes behind the winner yet held a comfortable six-minute advantage over third place.
Away from racing, Walter balances a full-time career as a firefighter with running her coaching business, Iron Bear Endurance Coaching. Earlier in the season, she was the top female finisher at the Oliver Half and also claimed victory in her age group at IRONMAN 70.3 Calgary.
A breakthrough season, a Kona podium, and a successful world championship debut make Walter a deserving addition to this month’s Top 5.
Stacey Campeau
Lapping her age-group competition.
Stacey Campeau didn’t just win the F55–59 division at IRONMAN California. The Canadian age-grouper dominated the field, stopping the clock in 10:26:57 and winning her division by more than an hour in one of the most commanding age-group performances of the day.
Campeau’s endurance sports journey stretches back to the 1990s, when Mark Allen was at the height of his powers. Unlike “The Grip,” though, Campeau didn’t step away from competition. Instead, she spent the next chapter of her life raising four children, teaching school, and continuing to run marathons.
When her children were older, she returned to triathlon in 2018. Her victory in Sacramento earned her a spot at the 2027 Ironman World Championship, which is already a major focus for next season. Before that, she’ll keep things closer to home, with another strong performance at the Vancouver Marathon firmly in her sights.
Brock Hoel
A hot debut. But not the hottest debut.
Brock may not have achieved his widely shared goal of winning Kona, but an 8:19 finish is nothing to dismiss. It was faster than any of Peter Reid’s three winning times on the Big Island, although technology and race performance have evolved considerably since Reid’s era.
As a Kona newcomer, Hoel was also tackling the sport’s most demanding classroom for the first time, and there were plenty of positives to take away from the experience. The challenge was that another rookie was writing an even bigger headline. France’s Vincent Luis was also making his Kona debut, and he arrived at graduation about 30 minutes earlier.
Paula Findlay
Ain’t gonna be no rematch. or will there?
Paula Findlay’s first trip to Kona didn’t quite go as planned. In fact, her biggest surprise afterward may have been admitting that she wasn’t sure she wanted to do it all again.
Findlay was competitive early, riding aggressively and staying in touch with some of the leading athletes. But the marathon proved to be a real challenge. Kona has a way of testing even the best, and this was certainly one of those days.
What deserves recognition is that Findlay kept going. With the podium out of reach and the race becoming more about getting to the finish line, she showed plenty of determination to see it through. That’s not always easy, especially for an athlete accustomed to competing at the front.
It may not have been the Kona debut she imagined, but it was an important experience. Whether there’s a return trip in her future remains to be seen. One thing is certain: she’ll have a much better idea of what awaits her next time.