malvernmugadzikwa
Ellina Mhlanga
PROMISING junior triathlete Stanley Chasakara is pleased with the progress he is making ahead of the first selection race for the season.
He is hoping for an improved performance for the new season that got underway with the duathlon events and the Annual Pink Triathlon held over the last two weeks.
With Triathlon Zimbabwe pushing for the growth, and to see more youth and juniors staying in the sport, Chasakara is becoming the posterboy of the national association.
They have set their sights on him eventually graduating to the elite level.
Triathlon Zimbabwe had four of their athletes — including juniors Callum Smith and Rohnan Nicholson — competing at the delayed 2023 African Games staged in Accra, Ghana, in March.
The duo received the tap on the shoulder as part of the association’s development efforts, and now they hope the exposure will help them push for the elite level.
Chasakara has also been making inroads of his own. After missing the Africa Championships earlier this year, he is eyeing qualification for the next event.
The qualification process starts with the selection races lined up for the 2024-2025 programme that runs up to March next year.
There are seven selection races lined up, with the first slated for October 27 at Mount Pleasant pool. The youth and juniors will be out to accumulate points to secure their places in the teams to compete in competitions like the South Africa Championships.
Chasakara was part of the participants at the Pink Triathlon last weekend, a breast cancer awareness and fundraiser event, and for him it was matter of gauging his progress ahead of the first selection race.
“I think I am getting better on the bike, which is one of my weaknesses right now,” he said.
“On the run, I have been much stronger and on the swim, I felt much better.
“As it pertains to the preparations, I am going to start training seriously this week up to the end of the season.
“I am done with my school sports, like tennis and swimming, and will focus more on the bike, the run and swim.”
Chasakara participated at the National Duathlon Championships at the end of last month, with most of the triathletes using it as part of their preparations for triathlon competition.
“I think this is the year I need to qualify for the Africa Championships,” he said.
“I need to work towards getting that, and also possibly getting a podium finish for my country.
“The best-case scenario for me is a podium finish at the actual (Africa) Junior Cup.”
The likes of Olivia Beamish, Rachel O’Donoghue and Bianca Van de Linde are also making positive strides.
They join a group of triathletes hoping to follow in the footsteps of Andie Kuipers, who was crowned the 2023 Annual National Sports Awards Sportswoman of the Year.
Speaking after the Pink Triathlon, national coach Pamela Fulton said it was a positive development to have the regular triathletes back for another season.
Now, she is looking forward to the first selection races as she noted that it will be a different atmosphere come October 27.
“It was great to have our regular triathletes back again (for the Pink Triathlon),” said Fulton. “They had some fun dressed up in pink and not having to sprint the whole race.
“I think they really love such races, events where there is less pressure on them. So, (this is a) good time for them to have fun, exercise, be healthy, but not have the pressure.
“The first selection race will be on October 27, and it will be a very different atmosphere. That is when they are going to start to take everything seriously.”
The national association’s efforts have seen several schools coming on board, and last season they had a schools’ event with a positive turnout. This has seen the local triathlon mother body expanding the event to make it a series for the 2024-2025 season.
Three schools – Abbeys, St John’s and St Michael’s – are scheduled to host the series between this month and February next year.
Online Reporter