Newton athlete takes fifth in triathlon

Kevin Nickel of Newton placed fifth overall and first in the non-professional division of the Merrill Lynch Race for Sight Triathlon May 4 in Columbia.

The race was a 440-yard swim, a 14-mile bike and three-mile run. Nickel, 27, finished in 1:00:35.22. Nickel was three and a half minutes behind the winning professional and three minutes ahead of the next amateur.

“My body felt good, but after the bike, I could barely get my running shoes on, my hands were so cold,” Nickel said.