Olympians Mari Rabie and Hendrik de Villiers will amongst the 500 triathletes who will converge on Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, for this weekend’s SA Triathlon Championships, to be held at Hobie Beach on Sunday morning, 20th March.
South Africa’s top age group triathletes will be competing for a top eight placing and thereby qualifying for the September 2011 World Triathlon Championships in Beijing. Elite category triathletes in the ITU Triathlon Africa Cup event will be competing for valuable Olympic qualifier points, so the competition in each category is expected to be fierce and fast.
The Juniors, aged 12 to 15 years, start off at 7.30am on Sunday morning, competing in a 400m swim, 10 kilometre cycle and a 2.5km run. The females start at 7.35am and compete over the same course and both races should be completed by 8.35am.
The older Juniors, aged 16 to 19 years, start at 8.30 and 8.35am, and their race consists of a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run, with the race expected to be completed by 10.05am.
The popular Age Groupers event starts at 10am and 10.15am and the competitors race in five year age groups, from 20 to 24, 25 to 29, upwards. Their course is a 1500m swim, 40km cycle and a 10km run, and their race should be completed by 13h15. Local hopes rest on Liza Bright, Mariette Hattingh and San Mari Woithe, with Mike Bosch and Alec Riddle expected to feature in the men’s categories. The oldest age grouper is PE’s Michael Copeland, aged 69 years.
Thirty Five elite triathletes, from South Africa, USA, Great Britain, Spain, Hungary, Croatia, Zimbabwe and Mauritius will contest the ITU Africa Triathlon Cup, consisting of two categories, Under 23 and Elite. This race starts at 13h30 and 13h35, and the course is a 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run, and both races should be completed by 15h45.
The swim courses will be off Hobie Beach, and the cycle laps will be between the grassed area at Second Avenue, Summerstrand, along Marine Drive to Noordhoek and back, creating two laps of 20km each. The shorter junior lap will be to the back gate of NMMU, and the elites will complete three laps, turning at the Rifle range.
Road closures will be in place during the cycling and motorists are requested to obey the marshalls who will be on duty at all intersections along the route. Marine Drive itself will be closed between Second Avenue and Noordhoek, from 7.30am to about 15h00.
The run courses will be along the beachfront cycle paths from Second Avenue, with the juniors turning at Pollok Beach and the other categories turning at 11th Avenue and completing two laps.
According to SA Triathlon Team Manager and EP Triathlon Race Organiser, Sharon Oakley, drafting is allowed in the Africa Cup cycle leg and fast cycle times can be expected, but the age group categories are not allowed to draft during their cycle. St Georges Life Hospital and Gardmed will provide the medical back-up and 100+ are the refreshment sponsors. “Some of the worlds top triathlete’s will be right here in PE and we encourage the public to support the event and enjoy the tight competition, as much is at stake” said Oakley.
Springbok Show-jumper Jade Hook will compete in the 20 to 24 age group category, in memory of her mom, Jennifer, who tragically passed away earlier this week after a horseriding accident a week ago.
Stanford Slabbert.
Editors Notes – Lest you think that these athletes are all go and no brains, consider this:
Mari Rabi‘s passion for triathlon began in 1995 after watching her father and sister compete in a local triathlon. Mari combined her swimming background with serious running and cycle training to become the athlete she is today. After finishing in the top ten at four different World Junior Championships (2002 to 2005), Mari joined the elite ranks by competing in her first World Cup in 2005 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006. Her future plans inside and outside triathlon include competing at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, becoming an Actuary and CEO of her own investment company.
Mari has completed her BComm Actuarial Science degree (Stellenbosch) and is currently studying an Msc in Applied Statistics at Oxford.
Henk De Villiers is a BCom Accounting graduate from the University of Potchefstroom and a four time African and South African triathlon Champion.
Henk trains in Richards Bay in preparation for the London World Championship Series and Olympic Games 2012. He is married to Lizanie.
Alan Straton
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