Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZANDER Botha stepped up to the plate to produce an impressive show at the South Africa Junior and Youth Championships when winning a gold medal in the Youth Boys Under-15 over the weekend in Benoni.
Triathlon Zimbabwe had an 18-member team, mainly consisting of youth athletes that took part in the Under-13 and Under-15, Super Sprint event made of 400m swim, 10km cycle and 2.5km run.
They also had some juniors competing in the Sprint event (16 years and above), consisting of a 750 swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.
In terms of podium performance, the day belonged to the youth athletes with Botha crossing the finish line first in the Boys Under-15.
South Africa’s pair of Johannes Brink and Buhle Tshabalala were second and third.
It was a huge improvement for Botha, who got bronze last year.
In the Youth Girls Under-15, Rachel O’Donoghue got a silver medal after coming second behind South Africa’s Taylor Foster.
O’Donoghue had hoped to defend the title she won last year but Foster proved to be the better athlete of the day coming first.
However, O’Donoghue, holds her head high up as she graduates to the next age-group, the junior category, next season having underlined her status in the youth category as one of the promising stars for the future.
She won gold twice at the South Africa Championships as an Under-13 in 2023 and last year in the Under-15, and has dominated the local races.
Olivia Beamish was third to weigh in with a bronze medal for the team.
Her younger sister Alexis Beamish was not to be outdone as she also picked bronze in the Youth Girls Under-13.
National coach Pamela Fulton, who was leading the team, described the tour as a success.
“A very successful tour and fantastic to see our athletes being rewarded for their hard work and placing on the podium.
“The weather was very chilly on race day with a little rain causing the roads to be slippery but this did clear during the day.
“A very successful tour for Triathlon Zimbabwe where we came home with four medals.”
