Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS Triathlon Zimbabwe resume their activities after the festive season break, national coach Pamela Fulton believes they are in for an interesting final half of the season.
Competition returns at Mount Pleasant pool on January 26 with the selection race number five for juniors and youth, the main event of the day.
Athletes will be aiming to accumulate more points and increase their chances of qualifying for events such as the South Africa Junior and Youth Championships in March.
The countdown to the 2025 Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup, scheduled for March 8 at Troutbeck, has also just begun, with online entries now open.
Other events to run alongside the Troutbeck event include the Multisport Festival and Zimbabwe Triathlon National Championships.
“The first half of the season regarding selection is always just starting to get your points, making sure you are competing in as many races as you can.
“As we get into the second part of the season, it’s about trying to improve your times and trying to peak at the right time for the South Africa Championships.
“There are three selection races still to go, and I know during the Christmas period there are obviously athletes who were away on holiday and probably haven’t done as much training.
“But I do know that there is a group of athletes who have stayed in Zimbabwe or stayed in Harare and have been training really hard.”
Some of the athletes have been competing in the cycling series as part of their training.
Fulton said they are also encouraging their athletes to take part in the Open Water National Championships early next month.
“I think some of our triathletes will be gearing up towards that, which is a fantastic open water training session for them.
“It’s going to be a busy second half of the season . . . Then we have got the Troutbeck event, which, unfortunately, is not our selection event as it’s too close to the South Africa Championships.
“Both of our junior and youth teams will be travelling to Benoni, and for the first time in quite a few years, it won’t be at Maselspoort for the youth. Everyone, both youths and juniors, will be competing in Benoni, in South Africa.
“And that will be over the weekend of the 14th to 16th of March. That will be one week after Troutbeck. Before Troutbeck the team will have already been selected,” said Fulton.
However, the Troutbeck event remains vital for local athletes as it will present a chance for qualification to the Africa Championships.
“But there is also a new clause in our criteria. Our Africa Championships qualifying criteria and that there are athletes who could possibly qualify at Troutbeck.
“Troutbeck is still a very important race for our athletes, probably even more so for those who are trying to qualify for the Africa Championships,” Fulton said.
The Troutbeck event remains one of the top highlights on the local calendar, with international athletes gracing the competition. Triathlon Zimbabwe are hoping that Andie Kuipers will be part of the Bonaqua Africa Cup again this year in the elite category. Several juniors will be up for the Junior Africa Cup that is held concurrently with the Africa Cup.
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daniel chigunwe
