The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze in Troutbeck, NYANGA
IT seems this was not a year for Zimbabwean athletes at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup in Nyanga, as they all failed to secure a podium finish in both the junior and senior races at the end of competitions yesterday.
Zimbabwe had no representatives in the elite races, while debutant 15-year-old Anja Van As did enough to settle for fourth place in the junior women’s race.
The local teenage sensation came behind South Africans Kadence Ribbink, who was also the defending champion, Lome Gouws and Mia Van Der Veen.
Nicole Madya finished off the prestigious race in fifth, with the highly rated Makanaka Mawere having to pull out of the competition during the bike race following a tyre puncture.
South African Shaun Wolfaardt also proved tough on the junior men’s side as he defended his title ahead of compatriots Nathan Foster and Kyle Erskine.
Zimbabwean Duwan Botha also pulled out of the junior men’s race due to health complications, while Matipa Mawere had to forgo the competition because of a leg injury.
Despite successfully defending her title, Ribbink noted that competition in this year’s edition had been tougher.
“I was a tough race. Despite having a great swim, which I really did not expect, I felt tired on the bike but managed to keep the lead.
“On the run, I just tried my best not to give up; I had to push as hard, keep believing in myself and I found myself going faster every lap,” said Ribbink.
Similarly, Wolfaardt felt there was tougher competition this year owing to a wider pool of athletes.
He said he had to move out of his comfort zone to fend off competitors.
“It was a rough day out, which forced me to move out of my comfort zone and use more energy in one go, so, in the end, the course felt very hilly and challenging,” he said.
“Having made it like this feels great; it has actually turned out to be my favourite race of the season.
“I am happy that I had the opportunity to race here again and experience the scenery, but last year was actually better for me because I was younger, so this year age and the pressure to defend the title made it all tough.”
Despite finishing fourth, Van As was happy with her performance.
She now feels inspired to target qualifying for the Olympic Games. Van As is also a two-time gold medallist in the junior category at the Africa Triathlon Championships.
She also won the South Africa Youth Championships twice in the 14 to 15 age-group and admits that she has had more success in triathlon compared to swimming, which bodes well for her future.
“Graduating from the youth into the juniors, I am happy that I did well because, being a first-timer in the race, I was actually hoping to be in the top five.
“I struggled a lot though on the run but I guess it is time to focus on what is next.
“Considering how strong these athletes are, my result is great because the race was quite a big scare, especially for me. It was meant to be challenging so I had to dig deep.
“Mentally, I was struggling, was wondering if I was going to finish the race, but I reminded myself that I am representing my country and had to push,’’ she added.
Her strength in the swim and bike sections, in which she was placed second, laid the platform for her commendable finish.
Van As is also still to fully recover from her leg injury.
“It is only after full recovery that I will revert to proper run-training, but currently, I am not sure of my future because I am sitting for my Ordinary levels this year, so it means divided attention.
“Hopefully, next year I will be able to pick up from where I left,” she said.
In the women elite category, South African Shanae Williams won gold, while Netherlands’s Barbara DeKoning and Gajdosova Slovakia from Romania grabbed silver and bronze in that order.
James Edgar Ireland won gold ahead of South African Dylan Nortje and Jorge Alarcon Familiar of Mexico in the elite men’s category.
