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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
INTERNATIONAL triathletes are expected to start arriving in the country today ahead of the 14th edition of the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup to be held on Saturday, at the Troutbeck Resort, Nyanga.
A total field of 31 international elite and junior triathletes, from nine countries, will join over 170 local counterparts, at this year’s meet, which will be conducted in strict adherence, to the Covid-19 health protocols.
For the third time running, the ATU Junior Triathlon Africa Cup, will also take place, at the same venue.
The contest was initially scheduled for February but had to be moved, due to the logistical complications, brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year’s event will also provide a test case, for the organisers, who didn’t have to worry about the pandemic, when they hosted the 2020 edition in February, last year.
Event director, Rick Fulton, yesterday told The Herald the stage was now set and predicted fireworks on the day.
“We have been running around on the ground, over the past months, and we have been at the venue since Monday, and I can tell you that we are well ahead of schedule,” said Fulton.
“Everything is going on well and we are expecting to start receiving the athletes, from tomorrow (today).
“We are ready to stage this event, we are confident everything will pan out well. We are also looking forward to top competition, in all the categories.”
Zimbabwe will be pinning their hopes on Wynn Greer in the Women’s Elite category.
She is the only Zimbabwean participant, in both the women’s and men’s elite events.
The pair of Laurelle Brown, and Mathew Denslow, who finished second and seventh in the women’s and men’s categories last year, are both out of this year’s competition.
Brown has private issues while Denslow couldn’t travel from England, where he is at university.
The onus will be on the little shoulders of a quintet, which hoisted high the country’s flag in the Africa Championships, held three months ago, in Egypt.
The gold medallist duo of Anje Van As (youth under-15 girls) and her boys’ counterpart Matipa Mawere, silver medal winner Emma Lidsba (youth under-15 girls), as well as Joshua Jacobs (bronze youth boys under-15) and Makanaka Mawere, will all be looking forward to doing well in the competition.
“Of course, some of the athletes we had for the same competition last year, are not there due to different reasons, but we are definitely looking forward to those available, to make the country proud.
“Greer has the experience and she can do well.
“We have several youngsters, who will participate in different categories, including in the Junior Elite, who we are confident will do very well.”
Coca-Cola, through their Bonaqua water brand, are the major sponsors of the fiesta whose sports-tourism potential, at the 2000m altitude and hilly Troutbeck, is unrivalled. Athletes are expected from Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa, among other countries.
And, besides the event prizes, this meet will afford participants to pick crucial Paris 2024 Olympic qualification points.
Besides the major elite, and junior races, participants will also battle it out in different other contests.
They include the African Cross-Triathlon (off-road) Championships, Schweppes Corporate Triathlon Challenge, Zimbabwe Triathlon Championships, Tri-Kidz and Trisports triathlon.
Aquathlon (run-swim-run) for individuals and teams, Open Water Swim Series, Youth Super-Sprint, Cimas I-Go Corporate Team Challenge Finale, Adult age-group and youth mini-triathlon formats, among other events, will also be on offer, on the same day.
Online Reporter