Chronicle Editor
Ellina Mhlanga, Harare Bureau
TRIATHLON Zimbabwe yesterday held the Annual Pink Triathlon at Mount Pleasant Pool with its regular members and corporates supporting the event.
Triathlon Zimbabwe organises the cancer awareness and fundraiser event in conjunction with The Pink Project. It has been running for more than a decade.
The Pink Project director, Debi Jeans, was grateful for the support they continue to receive.
“We were delighted with the turnout today. Just amazing from the corporates, from the individuals.
“It’s the 11th year since I was diagnosed with breast cancer . . . So, it’s not just about breast cancer, it’s about all cancers. And it’s about people turning out as a community to support those going on that journey.
“Zimworx has been sponsoring it for five years. They sponsor all the money needed to run the event, and every dollar raised goes to the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe, which is the cancer centre.
“So, this event is very important. It’s absolutely fantastic, the turnout is just amazing,” said Jeans.
Participants took part in the tri-fit and super sprint which were open to all age-groups as well as duathlon and aquathlon events.
The programme included tri-kidz, tri-tots and tri-sport for children.
Some of the juniors who took part include Rohnan Nicholson, who competed in the super sprint event together with Stanley Chasakara and Callum Smith.
It was the first triathlon event at Mount Pleasant Pool this season and some of the athletes took the chance to gear up for the first selection race to be staged on October 27 at the same venue.
Nicholson, who was on a month-long cycling training camp in South Africa said his build-up for the season has been good.
“I have been going strong. I have been going for long rides, long runs, long swims, so we have been going good. I don’t have that high (expectation) but I hope that I can still be at the top level and just have fun and do my best,” said Nicholson.
Promising youth athlete Olivia Beamish was also among the participants.
“I think I did really well. My swim was freezing and I could I have done better. My ride actually wasn’t too bad, I think I could have also done better.
“I was very surprised with my run, I did very well. So, I think I am pretty much prepared. I could do a bit more training, work a bit more on my transitions and I think I will be perfect.”
Triathlon Zimbabwe vice president, Pamela Fulton, was pleased with the increase in corporate teams.
“Today has been an incredible day. It’s a good way to start our season at Mount Pleasant and to have so many team members.
“We have been trying for so long, many seasons we try and get the corporate teams to come and participate and today we had fantastic turnout. To have all these corporate teams here is what we have been striving for, for many years.
“And we just hope that they come back to our races for the whole of the season and also try and participate at Troutbeck. That’s been our big goal for a long time as we increase that participation,” said Fulton.
Some of the corporate teams that took part included Zimworx, Cimas iGO and Electrosales.
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