The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda in Nyanga
SOUTH Africans dominated at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck after the neighbouring country’s triathletes picked up five of the six medals on offer in the elite senior races in Nyanga yesterday.
South Africans took all the medals in the elite men’s race which was won by Jamie Riddle in 01:00:26 hours, followed by Christiaan Stroebel in 01:01:44 hours, while Dylan Nortje was third in 01:01:50 hours.
The men’s elite race was a close contest with the triathletes finishing seconds apart.
“It was a super tough race I must say, I had quite a lot of adversity coming into it, just a few issues heading into the race, today wasn’t about how fast I go, it was just about trying to pull off the win and from the go, it was a proper race,’’ Riddle said.
On what he found to be the toughest part of the race, Riddle pointed at the fact that the Troutbeck course is one the most difficult in the world because of the high altitude.
“Zimbabwe is known to be the toughest course, probably in the world, you’re either going up or down and you at 2 000 metres altitude, which is not usual for the circuit,’’ he said.
Slovakian, Ivana Kuriachova won the women’s elite race ahead of the South African duo of Shanae Williams and last year’s Hannah Newman.
Zimbabwean Greer Wynn was fifth out of six, with the 45-year-old declaring that it was her last race.
In the Africa Triathlon Junior Cup, South Africans took gold, silver and bronze in the junior elite men. Shaun Wolfaardt was first, Christian Hattingh finished second and in third place was Francois De Villiers.
Matipa Mawere of Zimbabwe secured fourth spot, George Ascott was seventh, Duwan Botha was eighth while Mandlenkosi Mthethwa was 10th.
Kadence Ribbink of South Africa won the junior women’s race, followed by her compatriot Mia Van Der Veen, while Zimbabwean Brooklyn Tippett took bronze.
Makana Mawere took fourth spot while another Zimbabwean Inkosinomusa Mthethwa was seventh.
– @Mdawini_29
