Scott Erba set a new course record in winning the Ideal Beach Triathlon in Elkhart June 10 (Photo provided by Tri Michiana)

ELKHART – Scott Erba had to wait a little longer than expected to make his triathlon debut for 2017.

The wait was well worth it though.

Erba, the former WCHS girls cross country and track coach, captured the Ideal Beach Triathlon on June 10 in record-setting fashion.

Erba won the overall title in the Long Sprint competition for the second straight year. The competition was his first of the season since the first race at the Morseman Noblesville Triathlon on May 20 was cancelled due to bad weather.

Erba used strong performances in both the biking and running portion of the event to claim the title. He had the fasted split in the 14-mile bike portion and also in the 3.1-mile run after exiting the water in second place in the 400-meter swim.

Erba, who has given up coaching to focus on his triathlon career once again, won the Ideal Beach event last year in his first race back after a 12-year break from competition.

Erba, who still teaches at WCHS, finished with a course record time of 1:00.36.

“I was pretty happy with my first race result of the season but disappointed that I left so much time on the swim which kept me from really challenging the one hour barrier,” noted Erba via email.

Erba had an issue with his goggles during the early part of the swim portion of the race which cost him time.

Erba will next compete in the Warsaw Optimists Triathlon on June 24. He will also be putting on the pre-race triathlon clinic at Winona Beach Park during the Optimists Triathlon registration and check-in on June 23 from 7-8 p.m. It will be the 18th year in a row that Erba has done the clinic.

Erba will also host a small triathlon camp this Saturday (June 17) from 8-10:30 a.m. through Green Earth Multisport in Winona Lake. Interested triathletes can sign up for the camp with Paula Deming at the shot on East Canal Street in the Village at Winona.