Jesse Thomas overcame a year-long foot injury to show up and earn an unprecedented four-peat at the Wildflower long course. Heather Jackson got her three-peat and over 3,000 triathletes enjoyed the long course and the mountain bike races Saturday.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson

Lake San Antonio was empty at the usual boat ramp site of the Wildflower swim start. So Tri California moved the swim 2 miles to the southeast at Harris Creek

Age group men's Wildflower swim start at Harris Creek.

Kyle Leto led the elite men's swim.

Wetsuits were legal - Harris Creek was 66 degrees.

With 2 miles to the bikes in transition, it was a good idea to bring some run shoes to Harris Creek.

Swimmers faced a steep hill to start their journey to transition.

Andrew Starykowicz led the swim and the bike leg before fading to 4th on the run.

Jesse Thomas was full of doubts about his injured foot but arrived 2nd at T2 and found the lead at Mile 7 of the run.

Heather Jackson earned her three-peat with a race-best bike leg.

Liz Lyles finished 2nd.

Emily Cocks finished 6th.

Leon Griffin pushed the pace on the bike until a mechanical problem dropped him back to 6th.

Riding past Lake Nacimiento, which still had water.

Andrew Starykowicz led until the 7th mile of the combined run.

AJ Baucco runs along the dry side of Harris Creek.

Matt Russell finished 3rd.

Matt Lieto finished 8th.

Heather Jackson enjoy the finish chute.

Pain at the finish.

A CAF athlete known to many as Breezy finished the mountain bike race with some friends.