Though the field for the 20th annual Sunfish Summer Triathlon Saturday morning was much smaller than usual, the race at Lake Okatibbee sent many athletes home with big smiles.

Some 156 individuals completed the race, along with five teams.

Andrew Kenworthy, a relative newcomer to the sport, took first place overall with a time of 1:36:47. He completed the half-mile swim in 11:24, then averaged 22.6 miles per hour on the bike and had a time of 5:57 per mile in the run phase.

“I only started triathlons three-and-a-half years ago, so this is my third full season,” said Kenworthy, 41, of New Orleans. “I’m really a runner, but I just enjoy triathlons. It’s kinda fun to come out.

“There’s a lot of people that come out here who don’t have any chance of winning, but they come out here and do it and I have so much respect for them. Even if they just finish, it’s an achievement in itself. I think that sense of community is the most important thing.

“Sure, I like winning. Everybody does. But it’s not the be all and end all. It’s much more coming out with friends and people that you see at different races. Those things are really important to me.

“You see some big guys out here and they’re struggling. But they’re out there exercising and keeping themselves healthy. That’s part of it. A lot of life is the effort you put in.

“I seem to be able to do it naturally. It’s easier for me. Some people don’t do it naturally, but they still do it. It’s easy to do things you’re good at. It’s much tougher to do things you’re not good at.”

Kenworthy was making his second appearance at the Sunfish.

“I raced this race two years ago and was third overall. I didn’t come back last year,” Kenworthy said. “I was just too busy. I’m not racing as well this year for obvious reasons. My training is not what it used to be.

“It was a nice swim today. The bike is always hilly and you always struggle up those hills, but the run, from two years ago when I did it, was a lot cooler today. It was a nice race.”

Clay Curtis, 32, of Plantersville was second with a time of 1:40.27. Luke Dessauer, 17, of Folsom, La., was third, turning in a 1:41:55 clocking. In fourth place was Ben Tuety, 35, of Jefferson, La., with a time of 1:42:14. In fifth place was Pete Prichard, 43, of Ocean Springs with a time of 1:42:18.

Taking first place among the females was Kelly White, 27, of Starkville. Her time of 1:50:45 was 25th best overall and led the other women by nearly a minute.

White is in her fifth year of triathlons and Saturday marked her first overall win.

“I’ve done two Ironmans and a half Ironman and all the races in Mississippi,” White said. “I’ve gotten second and third and fifth, but this is the first one I’ve won. I’m very happy.”

White had a swim time of 14:54, then averaged 19.9 miles per hour on the bike and 6:29 over the run.

“I’m not the greatest swimmer, but I had a decent swim,” White said. “The course was really hilly, but I enjoyed it. It was fun. The run is my best part, so I really enjoyed that.

“That levee at the end is too long for me. You think you’re never going to get to the end. Overall, it was a well put on race and I really enjoyed it.”

Second place among the females went to Lindsay Overton, 23, of Fairhope, Ala., with a time of 1:51:39. In third place was Margot Gathings, 23, of Birmingham, Ala., with a time of 1:53:25. Fourth place belonged to Carrie Andrews, 26, of Pelham, Ala., at 1:56:01.

The top local finisher was Dustin Culpepper, 30, of Meridian. His time of 1:56:01 was good for 45th place.

Nine states had athletes competing. In addition to Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, other states represented were Indiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, Florida and Georgia.

At least five athletes won their age group for the first time ever.

“That’s what it’s about, getting new people into the sport,” said race director Stacy Barr. “We had a lot of people that were first-time triathletes that either won their age group or placed in their age group, so they’re forever hooked in it.”

Taking first place among the teams was Team Crackmonster composed of Joey Lee, Chad Brumfield and Elton Reed.