What a weekend for Triathlon in the Free State!
This past weekend the Free State Triathlon Champs took place at Maselspoort just outside Bloemfontein. The organisers set up the course early in the morning for the athletes to race.
We started with the senior athletes who competed in th Standard Distance (1,5km swim, 40km Bike and 10km run), with some of Free State Triathlon legends (Franna Vorster) turning up, we knew from the start that racing will be hard and fast. Big was the surprise when a lady, Nelmarie Loubser, was the first swimmer to reach the transition.
The bike started with the guys chasing Nelmarie down. The wind picked up and it became a strong biker course and the men on the TT machines used it to take control of the course. First off the bike was no other than Dr Nicholas Theron, followed by Daniel de Goede (Gauteng).
The run proceeded with the big guns chasing Theron down, Franna and Daniel put in a solid run but Theron was just too strong for them . An awesome run by Theron saw him take the win and the title for 2013. Nelmarie Loubser was as consistend as ever to once again take the ladies win.
In the junior races we saw a bright new star to follow in the year to come. Young Heinz Mittermaier from Witteberg Secondary School in the Eastern Free State, who only started Triathlon this season in the age group 12 -15, attacked from the start. He opened the gap on a good swim and then followed it up with a good performance on the bike and the run. Be on the lookout for this young man.
ITU Sprint Triathlon African Cup
On Sunday the ITU Sprint Triathlon African Cup had taken place in Cape Town where some of our athletes once again showed their abilities to race against the top Elites in the Country and the World.
In the Elite Men Race one of the up and coming juniors in the Country also part of the Juniors Academy, lined up against men 10years older. Hanre Herbst was invited to compete in the race as part of his commitment over the last year. Hanre, still a scholar, had a solid race, racing guys that represented SA at the Olympics in London. Well done Hanre. Keep on training hard and you will get there.
In the women race we as Free State Triathlon will always be in the privilege position to have the Golden Girl in Triathlon, Miss Kate Roberts, a Double Olympian. She once again went to Cape Town and as always showed why she is the Golden Girl - she finished the race in second place, a couple of seconds behind the winner. Ex Free State Triathlon girl from Eunice High School, Miss Carlyn Fischer, finished in the third place
Well done to everyone who raced over the weekend
I am proud to be associated with Free State Triathlon
Schalk Roestoff