The Sunday News
Dalphine Tagwireyi Sports Reporter
TRIATHLON Zimbabwe will host the Troutbeck ATU Triathlon African Cup and the national championships at Troutbeck Inn Resort in Nyanga on 28 March. The 4th edition of the Troutbeck Mile Open Water Swim will also take place on the same day. Triathlon is a multiple stage competition involving the completion of three continuous endurance disciplines which are swimming, cycling and running.
The African Cup attracts elite athletes from around the world who usually enter the event through the International Triathlon Union.
Triathlon Zimbabwe administrator Carol Pakenham said they were expecting competitors from South Africa, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Brazil and the Czech Republic, among others.
“The start lists have only just opened and so I cannot give you full details on which international athletes will be attending,” said Pakenham.
“We have hosted this event as well as the African Championships before and have had the pleasure of hosting past Olympians such as Zimbabweans Chris Felgate, Richard Murray, Henri Schoeman, Kate Roberts, South African Gillian Sanders and Mauritian Fabienne St Louis,” she added.
Pakenham mentioned that the conclusion of the South African Championships today where Zimbabwe junior triathlon athletes took part will see a selection of a team of youth and junior athletes who will compete at Troutbeck.
“We have also invited individuals in the youth and junior age groups from Egypt, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya and Mauritius but they have not confirmed participation as yet,” she said.Although she was not at liberty to mention the exact number of participants, Pakenham said entries were flowing in and that they anticipated a field of about 120 athletes from across the world.
The Troutbeck Mile Open Water Swim is also held on the same day as the triathlon events and for safety reasons, the minimum entry age for the swim is 13 years.
Pakenham said that in 2012 golden girl Kirsty Coventry set a record time of 00.20.50 in the ladies 1 500m which was broken in 2014 by fellow Zimbabwean Sarah Hawgood who recorded a new time of 00.20.49.
The men’s 750m record that was set by South African Russell Gaynorin 2012, a time of 00.10.41, was broken in 2013 by Wikers Saunders (SA) and is currently being held by Zimbabwean Dylan Steyl who recorded the new time last year which now stands at 00.10.28.
“However the men’s 1500m record set in 2012 still stands by Nicholas Burnett (ZW) 00.20.39 as well as ladies 750m record remains unbroken set by South African Kerryn Grenfell 00.11.00,” she said.
Event categories
Youth girls and boys Under-16: 375m super sprint (quarter) swim, 10km cycle, 2.5km run
Junior women and men Under-20: 750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run
Elite and U-23 Standard Distances: 1500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run
Mixed teams (open): 750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run
Mixed teams (open): 1500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run.
