ZTU in schools’ aquathon drive

07 Apr, 2017 - 00:04 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Triathlon Union is embarking on a concerted promotion of aquathon in schools around the country as a way of promoting the sport to increase participation in triathlon competitions.

Unlike triathlon which involves swimming, biking and running, aquathon incorporates run-swim-run as one continuous event for teams and also individuals.

Due to the expensive bikes and resources needed in triathlon, aquathon becomes a convenient substitute for under-resourced institutions around the country.

This was revealed by ZTU president, Rick Fulton, during the 2017 Bonaqua Troutbeck ATU Triathlon African Cup in Nyanga last Saturday where a number of international triathletes competed in the undulating terrain of Nyanga.

“We are introducing aquathon which we introduced to our events this season aimed at the schools.

“It incorporates run-swim-run as one continuous event for teams and also individuals,” said Fulton.

However, 2017 Bonaqua Troutbeck ATU Triathlon African Cup winner Jonas Schomburg, who is in the process of changing his nationality from Turkey to Germany, competed under the ITU banner this year.

Jean-Paul Burger of Namibia came second while Linus Stimmel of South Africa settled for third position.

2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the triathlon event as being sanctioned by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) as an African Cup, which is a point scoring race for elite athletes within the ITU ranking system.

For the local athletes this event was also the national championships.

The 2017 edition of the event official sponsors were Coca-Cola, Hyundai, Bokomo Weet-Bix, Bon Marche and DHL but this is the first year that Bonaqua have been the title sponsor.

It was also for the first time that the Schweppes Holdings corporate team relay challenge was held.

The event has to take place at Troutbeck owing to the safe, clean, disease and animal free water at the venue and the good roads for the bike section.

The 2016 winners were Ayan Beisenbayev of Kazakhstan in the elite men’s event and Fabienne St Louis of Mauritius in the elite women event.

Elite athletes from Japan, South Africa, and Namibia also took part in the event.

Race distances for the elites were 1500m swim, 40km cycle followed by a 10km run.

Standard distance age group adults (20-65 years) partook in a 1500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run.

Sprint (half standard) distance age group adults (20-65 years) and the juniors (U-17/U-19) competed in a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.

Super-sprint (quarter standard) distance – youth (U-13/U-15) adults (20-65 years) and corporate teams competed in a 375m swim, 10km cycle, 2.5km run.

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