Zimbabwe triathletes off to SA

Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

TRIATHLON Zimbabwe national coach Pamela Fulton says they are looking for positive performances from the Zimbabwean athletes in their tour of South Africa this weekend.

Fourteen triathletes are set to leave for South Africa today to participate in three events including the South Africa Youth Championships, Africa Triathlon Cup, and Africa Triathlon Junior Cup this Sunday at Maselspoort.

The bigger contingent of the triathletes are competing in the South Africa Youth Championships.

The youth triathletes will be joined by Andie Kuipers, who is expected to compete in the Africa Cup event, while the trio of Rohnan Nicholson, Stanely Chasakara, and Callum Smith are going for the Africa Junior Cup.

Fulton is leading the team together with tour manager Laura O’Donoghue.

Initially, only Nicholson was set to compete in Junior Cup in South Africa but Chasakara and Smith have come on board to try and qualify for the Africa Championships expected in April.

They had hoped to take part in the South Africa Junior Championships in April but with the Africa Championships now moved to an earlier date, they have decided to go for this weekend’s event.

“All plans are going well for the South Africa Championships.

“There has been a slight change in that the Africa Championships date has been moved very close to the South Africa Junior event. It’s two weeks after the South Africa Championships in PE (Port Elizabeth), so Stanely and Callum have decided that they are going to compete in Maselspoort instead of PE. So there are two additions to this tour.

“So this event is important for those three juniors, Rohnan, Callum, and Stanely as it is the qualifying event to get to Africa Championships. So they have to be within 10 percent of the event winner’s time to qualify for the Africa Championships.

“All three of them are 15 years old and they have to be within 10 percent of the Under-19 winner. So it’s going to be a very tough task but it is doable. So hopefully we will have some athletes qualifying in the junior category for Africa Championships,” said Fulton.

Kuipers will also be out to build her ranking as she chases qualification for the Olympic Games when she competes in the elite women’s.

For her, Sunday’s event is also part of her build-up to the African Games to run from March 8 to 23 in Accra, Ghana. It’s the same story for Callum and Nicholson.

“For Andie as well, important event for her to try and build her ranking. She is very much ready, mentally, and physically for this event. So we just wish her well and hope that she does get within 10 percent of the fastest ladies so that she does get her ranking points.

“In the youth category, the kids, there are quite a few of them that are touring for the first time. So we had a team-building event last Saturday and it went well. The kids are excited.

“The kids who haven’t been on tour before, were given the kits, Triathlon Zimbabwe tracksuits and kit that they are going to be travelling in and wearing when they are at the South Africa Championships. So it’s been great vibe,” said Fulton.

Initially, the national association had announced a 12-member youth team but two of the athletes that had qualified for the championships are not travelling.

Last year, Rachel O’Donoghue won a gold medal in the Girls Under-13 category. She is going to compete in the Under-15 category this time around.

“She now hopes to win the Under-15 girls category, despite being bottom of the category, age-wise,” said Fulton.

O’Donoghue was part of the youth athletes that competed at Troutbeck more than a week ago and as she returns to South Africa, she knows what to expect.

“To be honest it isn’t that much of a surprise to me. Last year I was very happy about it. But this year it was just another race.

“I think there is a little bit more competition for me. But generally the same,” said O’Donoghue.

 Teams:

Under-13 Boys: Daniel Nicholson, Sebastian Goddard, John Goddard, Seth Cameron.

Under-15 Boys: Zander Botha, Matthew Hildebrand, Ta’anashe Makosa.

Under-15 Girls: Rachel O’Donoghue, Olivia Beamish, Bianca Van de Linde.

Africa Triathlon Junior Cup Maselspoort: Rohnan Nicholson, Callum Smith, Stanely Chasakara.

Africa Triathlon Cup Maselspoort: Andie Kuipers.