There was a familiar figure atop the podium after the Santa Barbara Triathlon last weekend. Michael Smith, a perennial standout in his hometown, won the sprint race (500-yard swim, six-mile bike ride and two-mile run) by more than a minute in 35:21. Runner-up to the 45-year-old Smith was 20-year-old Matthew Organista of Carpinteria.
Two of the most accomplished athletes participated in the “Just for Fun” division. Local businesswomen Marge Cafarelli and Jan Hill received the first Barbara Warren Community Spirit Award, named after a veteran triathlete who died last year. Race director Joe Coito said that Cafarelli and Hill raised more than $21,000 for the Cancer Well-Fit Program. With the help of the event sponsor Montecito Bank & Trust, Coito said the goal is to raise $50,000 for the beneficiary through this year’s triathlon.
As for upcoming sports events, the summer is winding down by the shore, where just two more Wednesday Nite Moves, including tonight’s (August 26) are on tap, and the Tuesday Reef & Run series will end September 8.
College soccer is swinging into gear. Westmont hosts Trinity Western of British Columbia in a women’s game Thursday at noon. Next week, the nationally ranked UCSB men open their regular season on Tuesday night against Cal State Bakersfield, and the Gaucho women face Michigan State on Thursday both games starting at 7 p.m. at Harder Stadium.
If you want to follow one of the most interesting major league baseball races, there is local rooting interest in the Colorado Rockies. The hero of their comeback victory against the San Francisco Giants Monday night was Ryan Spilborghs, the outfielder from Santa Barbara. His grand-slam home run in the bottom of the 14th gave Colorado a 6-4 victory. They are closing the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West standings. It’s shades of 2007, when Spilborghs hit .322 in September and the Rockies rode a hot streak all the way into the World Series.
TOP SPORTING EVENTS: AUGUST 26-SEPTEMBER 6
Wednesday, August 26
Running / swimming Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through September 2. Sign-up information.
Thursday, August 27
College women’s soccer Trinity Western (B.C.) at Westmont, 12 p.m.
Saturday, August 29
College women’s volleyball Alumni at Westmont, 3 p.m.
Sunday, August 30
Polo Bombardier Pacific Coast Open at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Tuesday, September 1
Running / swimming Reef & Run Summer Series (1k swim, 1-mile swim, 2-mile run, 4-mile run), Cabrillo Bath House, 6:25 p.m. Continues every Tuesday through September 8. Sign-up information.
College women’s volleyball Cornerstone (Michigan) at Westmont, 5 p.m.
College women’s soccer Hawaii-Hilo at Westmont, 3 p.m.; L.A. Mission at SBCC, 7 p.m.
College men’s soccer Cal State Bakersfield at UCSB, Harder Stadium, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, September 2
Running / swimming Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m.
College women’s volleyball California Baptist at Westmont, 5 p.m.; Thompson Rivers University at UCSB (exhibition), Thunderdome, 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 3
College women’s soccer Michigan State at UCSB, Harder Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 4
High school football Bishop Diego at Los Angeles Salesian, 7 p.m.; Santa Ynez at Carpinteria, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 5
Polo Western Badge at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, 2 p.m.
College football SBCC at Hancock, Santa Maria Righetti High, 6 p.m.
College women’s soccer Oklahoma Southern Nazarene at Westmont, SBCC’s La Playa Stadium, 4 p.m.
College men’s soccer Hawaii-Hilo at Westmont, UCSB’s Harder Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 6
Running Pier-to-Peak Half Marathon, Stearns Wharf to La Cumbre Peak, 6:30 a.m. Sign-up information
Polo Bombardier Pacific Coast Open Championship at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, 2 p.m.