Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
IN the vibrant sphere of triathlon, the time of the year when young triathletes in Zimbabwe buckle down in earnest has come.
The prestigious South Africa Championships beckon. They are set to unfold in Benoni on March 16 as a combined youth and junior affair.
Triathlon Zimbabwe, in anticipation of this momentous event, has selected an esteemed 18-member team of youthful boys and girls to represent the nation on the global stage.
The upcoming Troutbeck competition in Nyanga on March 8 serves as a warm-up event, with the majority of the team members expected to participate.
Team Zimbabwe are then expected to leave for South Africa on March 14 ahead of the March 16 contest.
For the juniors, they are likely to face some South Africans, who are expected to have attended the Junior Africa Cup at Troutbeck.
Among the young athletes who have competed at the South Africa Championships before is Rachel O’Donoghue, who has had an impressive run after coming tops for the past two years in the youth category.
This year will be her last in the youth age group and she is hoping to go out with a bang.
Last week, she indicated that she would be going for gold again.
“I am really excited about those races because I think there will be some good competition this year. I really want to win the gold again and keep my streak going, but we will have to wait and see,” said O’Donoghue.
Zander Botha, who has had an outstanding season, will lead the youth boys.
“I will be going to Troutbeck, then after that I will be going to Benoni, hoping to win both races. Last time I came third and hope to win the South Africa Championships (this time around).
“Once I am done there, I will be flying to Namibia, Swakopmund, to compete at another Africa Cup there. If I manage to qualify, I will be aiming to go to PE (Port Elizabeth) for the Africa Championships,” said Botha.
Another promising up-and-coming star, Olivia Beamish, is looking forward to both the championships in South Africa and the Troutbeck event.
“I am getting ready for that,” she said. “I have been practising and I have been doing more hill work. I think I am going to do well.
“The season has been really good so far and I have improved a lot. So, I am very happy about that,” Beamish said.
Speaking after the last selection race for the youth last weekend, Matthew Hildebrand said he is stepping up his preparations for Troutbeck and the South Africa tour.
“We are going to be heading into some heavy training for Troutbeck, doing hills training and stuff. I am going to a camp in Nyanga to get used to the hills and stuff. After that, I should be ready for Troutbeck and then Benoni,” he said.
The team will be accompanied by national coach Pamela Fulton; Leigh-Anne Young, as the assistant coach; and tour manager Laura O’Donoghue.
“Our athletes have worked hard all season and as we draw towards the end, a total of 18 youth and juniors have been rewarded for their hard work.
“These 18 athletes will represent Triathlon Zimbabwe at the 2025 South Africa Championships, Benoni,” said Fulton.
She added: “This year we have a large youth team consisting of 15 athletes — three Under-13 girls, two Under-13 boys, three Under-15 girls and seven Under-15 boys.
“Our strong and experienced Under-17 three-man team are expected to challenge their South African counterparts.
“Despite being a young team, it has a lot of talent and experience, as well as quite a few athletes representing Triathlon Zimbabwe for the first time.”
TEAM
Under-13 Girls
Alexis Beamish
Olivia Collett
Hannah Hosack
Under-15 Girls
Rachel O’Donoghue
Olivia Beamish
Bianca Van de Linde
Under-13 Boys
Alvin Mufute
Daniel Hildebrand
Under-15 Boys
Zander Botha
Aden Collett
Matthew Hildebrand
Sebastian Goddard
John Goddard
Ta’anashe Makosa
Ethan Donzva
Under-17 Boys
Rohnan Nicholson
Stanley Chasakara
Callum Smith
