Ellina Mhlanga in Nyanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S only female participant at the Africa Triathlon Junior Cup, Nicole Madya, had a good day in the office after claiming bronze at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga yesterday.
The junior event runs concurrently with the main competition, the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup.
The absence of any athletes from Zimbabwe in the elite category shifted the attention entirely to the Junior Cup, where the nation was represented by four competitors.
Madya was in the junior women’s race, and the trio of Callum Smith, Stanely Chasakara and Mandlenkosi Mthethwa competed in the junior men’s race.
South Africa dominated the junior women’s race, with Kadence Ribbink coming in first while Karli Lotter finished second.
The race consisted of a 750m swim, a 20.33km bike ride and a 5km run.
With five entries for junior women, Madya was the last athlete out of the water but she pushed on the bike and ran to catch up with the rest of the pack.
“I am feeling really happy that I got a podium finish,” she said after the event.
“That wasn’t really my goal coming in, but I am really happy with the end result.
“And I also got a PB (personal best), so that’s really good for self-improvement.”
Madya is calling time on triathlon to focus on athletics. “I am really sad, but I have to stick to the plan I had to shift my focus to athletics.
“So, this was a bittersweet finish for me.
“Now, I have to move on.”
Ribbink, who has previously won the junior title twice, was happy to add a third one.
“I didn’t have too many expectations going into the race, because I have been injured for the last two months. However, today I performed better than expected,” he said.
South Africa’s Nicholas Horne retained the junior men’s title after having won it last term.
“It’s really nice to defend it again, I am really happy with it and will be back again,” said Horne.
Namibia’s Nathan Chase secured the second position, with another South African Zac Fletcher finishing in third place.
Smith was the first Zimbabwean junior men to cross the finish line, coming fourth.
Chasakara and Mthethwa were fifth and seventh, respectively.
Rachel Klamer of Netherlands was crowned champion in the elite women’s race.
Interestingly, Klamer was born in Zimbabwe and was excited to be back home after having left when she was three.
“It’s amazing to be here. It’s a beautiful place.
“This was a very well-organised event.
“The course was really hard because it’s really high altitude here.
“I come from a really flat country, so it’s really hard, but it was amazing.
“My time here in Zimbabwe has been amazing. I was born here and it has been amazing to be back here again.
“I hope many other people will come and race here in the future because it’s an amazing place to be”
The elite men’s title went to Panagiotis Bitados of Greece.
“I felt really good actually,” said the Greek.
“Before the race, I felt a little sick from the sun but I had a really good race from the swimming.
“I started to create a gap from the other athletes in the water, and it was really good for me.
“And then I kept the pace, a good pace on the bike and just one solid run to finish.”
Valentin Wernz of Germany came second and Paul Georgenthum from France was third.
