Molina Is 5 for 5 in L.A. Regional Triathlon Events

In what is becoming triathlon’s version of summer reruns, Scott Molina won the men’s professional competition in the Los Angeles regional event of the U.S. Triathlon Series at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point Saturday.

That’s five wins for Molina in the five years the event has been held.

Molina, who has won 23 of the 30 USTS events he has entered, was fifth after the 1.5-kilometer swim, the first leg of the triathlon. He finished the second leg--a 40-kilometer bike ride--in a virtual 10-way tie for first place.

On the 10K run, Molina passed Michael Durkin about midway through and steadily built a lead. He topped the field of 1,900 entrants in 1 hour 49 minutes 17 seconds and earned $7,000. Richard Wells (1:50:33) sprinted past Mike Pigg (1:50:34) to take second place. John Devere (1:50:41) was fourth, and Durkin (1:50:54) placed fifth.

In the women’s professional competition, Joanne Ernst overcame an admitted weakness in swimming to win in 2:05:28.

Ernst, who had to withdraw from a series event in San Diego last year when she could not swim beyond the breakwater, came out of the water in eighth place. She improved to third after the bike ride.

Her 38:21 time in the run allowed her to win easily. She also earned $7,000. Carolyn Heins was second in 2:06:10.