Vusumuzi Dube
Mehluli Sibanda in Nyanga
THERE is a good turnout for this year’s Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck taking place at the Troutbeck Resort today (Saturday) with 11 elite men as well as six women to take part in the women’s elite race.
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Mauritius, Austria, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovakia, Japan and the United States of America are the countries represented in the senior elite races. Greer Wynn, who finished third in the senior women elite is Zimbabwe’s only representative in the seniors. South African Hannah Newman, the women’s elite champion for last year has made it to defend her title.
In 2021, the turnout in the seniors was not so impressive in a race that was moved from early in the year to September because of the coronavirus pandemic. Eight men and just three women entered the senior elite competition last year.
The 46-year-old Wynn is eager to do better than she did in last year’s race.
“I am very ready for tomorrow, I’ve prepared both mentally and physically over the last six months and I’ve had a fantastic racing season, I’ve done every single race, doing every race prepares me for tomorrow,’’ Wynn said.
The competition should be stiff in the men’s elite race where Namibian Divan Du Plooy is looking to improve on his fourth-place finish he achieved last year. Nathan Cohen from the United States of America, Martin Demuth of Austria, South African Dylan Nortje and Michał Oliwa of Poland are the others to watch out for in the men’s elite.
In the Africa Triathlon Junior Cup Troutbeck, Zimbabwe is well represented with four boys in a huge field of 15. Duwan Botha, Matipa Mawere, Mandlenkosi Mthethwa and George Ascott are carrying Zimbabwe’s hopes in the junior elite men while there are five Zimbabwean girls in the junior women elite.
Last year, Ascot was beaten to the finish line by a few seconds, which saw him miss out on a bronze medal.
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Online Reporter