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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER taking a break for the festive season Triathlon Zimbabwe resume their events tomorrow with a full programme at Mt Pleasant Pool.
There are various races on offer, from triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and aquabike events. There is also a TriRun on offer. For triathlon, it will be selection race number six for the junior and youth athletes.
The limelight will be on the selection race for the junior and youth athletes as they will be out to accumulate points to make teams to compete at the South Africa Championships in March.
National coach Pamela Fulton said they have 12 youths hoping to qualify to compete at the championship due to take place in March.
In addition to the usual events, they will be hosting the Hellenic School Invitational race as the national association takes the sport to schools.
“Sunday we expect a really big turnout at Mt Pleasant Pool as we are introducing an inter-schools event for junior schools to help promote our sport within the school structure.
“This idea was spearheaded by TZ and Hellenic Primary School. Nine schools were invited to participate.
“Sunday will be a very busy but fun day as it also coincides with our first selection event of the second part of the season. The youth have only three events remaining to build their points to the required 10, in order to be eligible to travel to the South Africa Championships,” said Fulton.
However, she pointed out that they may be missing some of the athletes due to school commitments.
“Unfortunately some selection athletes may be unable to participate, being an in-weekend for the boarding schools.
“Some athletes have been training really hard over the Christmas break and I am sure they will post really good times. Those who travelled during the holidays may find Sunday extremely hard but I am sure they will be back up to full speed soon,” said Fulton.
Some of the leading triathletes in terms of the points include Rachel O’Donoghue and Olivia Beamish in the youth girls. Daniel Nicholson and John Goddard lead in the youth boys.
Rohnan Nicholson and Callum Smith, who excelled at the Africa Championships last year in the youth category are leading in the juniors. They have both graduated to the junior category.
Triathlon Zimbabwe are also building up for the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup and Multisport Festival at Troutbeck on February 17.
Being an Olympic year, hopes are that the event attracts more elite athletes as they seek to accumulate ranking points for qualification.
“We sincerely hope to have many elite athletes travel to Zimbabwe in the hopes of building their ranking, despite it being early in the season for those living in the northern hemisphere,” said Fulton.
Zimbabwe’s Olympic hopeful Andie Kuipers is expected to represent the country in the event.
The Bonaqua Africa Cup will run concurrently with Junior Africa Cup and Triathlon Zimbabwe will be hoping to have several of their juniors competing.
Other events on the day will include the Zimbabwe National Championships.
Online Reporter