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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
TRIATHLON Zimbabwe president, David Ellis, says they will be looking at different events, to assist their athletes prepare for a new season.
Ellis retained the presidency during Sunday’s annual meeting in Harare.
Prior to the elections, Ellis had indicated he will not be seeking re-election but, with noone putting their name forward for the post, he decided to stay on.
“Although I had been vice-president, under Rick Fulton and then Demos Koutoungos, I had only completed one term as president so, in consultation with my peers, I decided to carry on,” said Ellis.
Pamela Fulton remains vice-president, Tim Major is the treasurer and Carol Pakenham is the secretary-general.
Stephan Lidsba is the fourth board member. The national association have the Africa Championships, as their immediate task, with the event set from June 11 to 13, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Among the affected competitions was the Bonaqua 2021 Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck, which had been scheduled for February.
It is now expected to take place in September and falls within the new triathlon season of September 2021 to April 2022.
“Some athletes’ inability, to consistently perform given the environment surrounding Covid -19, was unfortunate.
“A disrupted season meant critical events were cancelled, or held at late notice, which compromised some athletes opportunity to qualify for the 2021 Sharm el Sheikh Africa Championships, in two weeks’ time.
“This caused immense frustration, amongst the triathlon family, but a lively debate during the AGM brought about some positive ideas, to negate such scenarios, in the future.
“These ideas will be honed in due course, when the board meets to establish and appoint the various sub-committees, and plan our strategies for the up-coming season.
“Some of these ideas entail focus on the multi-sport derivatives of triathlon, being duathlon and aquathlon,” said Ellis.
They are hoping the events will help triathletes prepare for the new season.
“The events will also assist traditional triathletes to prepare for the new season and the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck event in September.
“Duathlon and aquathlon are very popular in other parts of the world and we will investigate the possibility of fielding teams at one or more major events to be held in the region in the new season.”
Africa Championships Team
Elite U23 Men: Matthew Denslow.
Under-19 Girls: Andie Kuipers, Mikayla Colegrave.
Under-17 Girls: Makanaka Mawere.
Under-15 Girls: Anje Van As, Emma Lidsba.
Under-17 Boys: Austin Gill.
Under-15 Boys: Duwan Botha, Joshua Jacobs, Matipa Mawere.
Team manager: Tracey Jacobs
National coach: Pamela Fulton
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter