Two Out of Three Has to Suffice

The bacterial contamination plaguing the waters off Huntington Beach turned triathletes into duathletes Sunday.

Organizers of the Day at the Beach Huntington Beach Triathlon and state park officials tried to find a spot for the one-quarter-mile swimming portion of the event, but the closed area kept expanding.

“We moved it north then we moved it south and then north again,” said Officer Herb White, special event coordinator for the state park. “We did everything we could to provide an opportunity for the participants but we just couldn’t pull it off this time.”

So Friday night, event organizers dropped swimming and turned it into a run-bike-run race. The runs were 2.5 miles each and the bike ride was nine miles.

Michael Collins of El Segundo was the overall winner in 49 minutes 23 seconds. Jessi Stensland of La Jolla was the first woman across the line, finishing in 54:05.

On Wednesday, the area of Huntington Beach that is closed to swimming was extended as the county continues to search for the source of the contamination. The water is now off-limits from the Santa Ana River jetties to Golden West Street.

NEW LEAGUE

The Los Alamitos recreation department is adding men’s soccer leagues for the first time this fall.

Enrollment has been falling in softball and basketball leagues, said Mike Kudron, Los Alamitos’ sports coordinator. “Our numbers are down in those sports,” he said, “so we decided to add soccer to the mix.

“I played soccer in high school and I play in a couple [arena] leagues. I talk to a lot of guys out there and it really seems like there is a need.”

Santa Ana and Anaheim are the only other Orange County cities known to run adult soccer leagues.

Los Alamitos will offer two divisions--open and 30 and older--and will play on Sundays at McAuliffe Middle School, starting Sept. 26. Cost per team is $595.

Registration begins Sept. 7. Details: (562) 430-1073.

ODDS AND ENDS

* Hoop-It-Up, a national three-on-three basketball tournament, will make its annual stop in the parking lots at Huntington State Beach Sept. 18-19. The event is open to players 8 and older and players are broken up into divisions according to skill level.

The entry fee is $140 for the Top Gun Division and $108 for other team divisions. The registration deadline is Sept. 8. Details: (310) 546-2741 or https://www.hoopitup.com

* Anaheim is holding registration for its fall adult softball season through Sept. 1. The 10-week season starts the week of Sept. 26. Play will be in men’s, coed and church leagues. Cost per team is $490. Details: (714) 765-5290.

* The United States Youth Volleyball League is holding registration for its Laguna Niguel league, which will start play Sept. 14.

The USYVL is an eight-week, coed instructional league for players 8-14. The cost, which includes uniform top, instruction, equipment and games, is $80. Details: (310) 643-8398.