Posted: Wed, 27 Oct 2010 06:44 PM - 11,533 Readers

By: Llano County Journal

Collis Williams easily outdistanced runner-up, Keith Bell, to win his third consecutive Tex Robertson Highland Lakes Challenge. Williams’ aggregate time for the Monster Challenge in the five-lakes-in-five-days event was 5 hours 30 minutes 58 seconds. Californian, Ali Hall, won the women’s side with a time of 6:47.50.

Robert Alford won the three-day-three-lake Weekend Warrior, overtaking Ken Turner on the final stage to squeak out his third consecutive victory.

Williams completed a sweep of all five stages with his win in the 3.25 mile Lake Travis Stage on the last day, claiming all five of the whole Bluebonnet Cafe’s World Famous Pies, one of which is awarded to each day’s Monster Challenge Stage winner.

“We always want more, but it was a good turnout,” race organizer and competitor Keith Bell said. :It was a little bigger than past years. We had some regulars who had conflicts, but next year should really grow.”

This year’s race included swimmers from all over the United States, and as far away as India where female swimmer Meenakshi Pahuja came from. She placed third in this year’s event and expects more competitors to come in next year from her home country.