dyton mupawaenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT will be a busy weekend for some of the country’s promising triathletes as they face their counterparts from the continent at the Africa Triathlon Championships in South Africa.
The competition takes place on Saturday and Sunday in Gqeberha.
Triathlon Zimbabwe are fielding seven junior and youth triathletes.
The team left for South Africa yesterday led by veteran coach Pamela Fulton.
Callum Smith and Stanely Chasakara will compete in the juniors (Under-17 Super-Sprint and Under-19 Sprint).
Zander Botha, Matthew Hildebrand, Ethan Donzva, Rachel O’Donoghue and Olivia Beamish will take part in the youth category (Under-15 Super-Sprint)
Smith is confident of the work he has put in, preparing for the championships.
“I am very prepared for this event. I have worked very, very hard for months now, gearing up to this event.
“And I feel like I have what it takes. I mean, Benoni and Troutbeck (events) were very good races to get me going for Africa Championships.
“As especially the competition in Africa Championships is going to be very stiff and very tough. Even tougher than South African Championships and Zim Championships.
“But definitely those races are going to help me towards Africa Championships.
“And I look forward to Africa Championships to see what I can do this year as I have already got three under my belt,” said Smith.
The likes of Botha, O’Donoghue and Beamish posted podium performances during the South Africa Junior and Youth Championships a few weeks ago.
They will be hoping to build on the positives when they take to the course over the weekend at the continental event.
The team will join Andie Kuipers, who is expected to also compete at the championships as she seeks to keep her ranking points up on the international level.
The goal is to start the groundwork towards putting herself in a position that presents her with better chances to making the cut for LA 2028 Olympic Games, when the qualification window opens.
Smith was the first runner-up for the Junior Sportsman of the Year at the 2024 Annual National Sports Awards, while Rohnan Nicholson was the second-runner up.
Athletics sprinter David Nyamufarira claimed the top gong in that category.
“I feel very honoured to win this award. I mean to be nominated top three in the country, it’s of the utmost honour.
“Definitely, this is going to push me a lot harder, I have seen that there is more to achieve here.”
For Nicholson, although he made the grade for the Africa Championships, he did not travel with the team as he focuses on cycling.
“PE (Gqeberha) just doesn’t make sense for me right now. I am trying to focus myself on cycling at the moment.
“So that’s the plan for the rest of the year. I don’t know, I could come back but I don’t know,” Nicholson said.
Youth and Junior Athletes:
Callum Smith (Under-17 Super-Sprint and Under-19 Sprint), Stanely Chasakara (Under-17 Super-Sprint and Under-19 Sprint), Zander Botha (Under-15 Super-Sprint), Matthew Hildebrand (Under-15 Super-Sprint)
Ethan Donzva (Under-15 Super-Sprint), Rachel O’Donoghue (Under-15 Super-Sprint), Olivia Beamish (Under-15 Super-Sprint)
Online Reporter