Three times the fun for kids

Triathlon provides challenge

For the sixth year, budding athletes in Michiana have gotten an opportunity to dip their toes into the triathlon pool.

Kids' Triathlon, sponsored by Teachers Credit Union and put on by the South Bend Parks and Recreation Dept., turned Potawattomi Park into a grueling three-sport trek that included a 25-yard swim, 1.3-mile bike ride and half-mile run.

A field of 550 boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 12 competed in the event.

Tribune photographer Rebecca Belling provides a closer look at the action.

Girls Age Group Winners

5-6 Beginners: Meghan Urbanski (South Bend) 15:12; 5-6: Mary Cate Varga (South Bend) 14:51; 7-8 Beginners: Cassidy Balciunas (South Bend) 15:21; 7-8: Hannah Taylor (New Carlisle) 12:00; 9-10 Beginners: Sierra Barbour (Mishawaka) 14:16; 9-10: Bethany Galat (Mishawaka) 10:58; 11-12 Beginners: Miranda Lewis (Brownstown, Mich) 15:01; 11-12: Kristina Galat (Mishawaka) 10:07

Boys Age Group Winners

5-6 Beginners: Noah Applegate (South Bend) 14:51; 5-6: Garrett Vanparys (Granger) 13:24; 7-8 Beginners: Noah Jackson (Mishawaka) 14:24; 7-8: Joey Varga (South Bend) 12:28; 9-10 Beginners: James Kiai (South Bend) 12:35; 9-10: Conrad Shreiner (Mishawaka) 10:40; 11-12 Beginners: Clayton Sibilla (South Bend) 14:43; 11-12: Isaac Thompson (New Carlisle) 9:35.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.