For the record, Tim Marr is one heck of a triathlete.

In his second year as a professional, the 28-year-old Mililani native met his goal of setting course records in three consecutive races over four weeks with a convincing win in yesterday's Lanikai Triathlon at Kailua Beach.

Marr completed the 500-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike ride and 5-kilometer run in 50 minutes, 20 seconds, the best time in the race's seven-year history. Marr had the previous best time of 54:20, set in 2005 over a slightly different course.

Chad Seymour (54:40) finished second and Billy Wong (55:31) third.

Rachel Ross, 30, of Hawai'i Kai, was the top female finisher at 57:51, ahead of good friend and training partner Amy Bennett (1:00:26). Kristy Peterson was third in 1:03:10.

Marr started his run of records March 25 with a 57:26 at the Iroquois Island Club Triathlon (750-meter swim, 13-mile bike, 3.5-mile run). He defended his title at the Lavaman Triathlon (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run) April 1 with a record time of 1:53:00.

"From the start, I wanted to set the record for the course," Marr said. "From the starting gun, I went all out. I just wanted to break 54 minutes."

There was some confusion about the results immediately after Marr finished, which didn't surprise Marr since his 50:20 finish even seemed fast to him.

"I didn't think so," Marr said when an attendant took his time card to double-check. "That (time) is impossible."

As it turned out, Marr's split times didn't add up correctly, but his overall time was right on the record.

Marr, who completed the Waikiki Roughwater Swim when he was just 6 years old, emerged from the swim just three seconds ahead of Seymour, then opened a comfortable lead during the bike segment.

"I've been really working on my cycling, so on the bike I felt conditions were perfect for me," Marr said. "It's a straight course with perfect pavement. It's a great bike course to really let loose and put some time on your competition."

Seymour, a professional triathlete and co-owner of Koko Head Triathlon Company, said he tried to keep up with Marr through the bike, but fell behind during a hill section and struggled on the run.

Ross got off to a conservative start, keeping to the middle of the pack as the field made its way through windy, choppy conditions.

She trailed Bennett by 13 seconds coming out of the water but quickly made up time as she cycled down Kalaheo.

Bennett, an IT manager for Pro Service Hawai'i, had problems with her bike and was unable to shift to her higher gears, limiting the amount of power she could transfer through her bike. Ross caught Bennett before the incline and never looked back.

"My husband (Ramsey) said I had the lead at T2 (the second transition point), so I decided to keep a high turnover on the run and go run with the boys," Ross said.

Ross, who took up running and triathlons after giving birth to her third child, finished third in the Lanikai Triathlon two years ago. She skipped the race last year to compete in the Boston Marathon.

Next up for Ross is the Strongman Triathlon next week in Japan, which consists of a 3,000-meter swim, 93-mile bike, and full marathon.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.