SunCity Triathlon aims to unearth talent
Published:Saturday | March 18, 2023 | 1:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
TRILIFE876 DIRECTOR, Dayne Wright, believes events such as the SunCity Triathlon, which takes place today at the Waves Beach in Hellshire, St Catherine, starting at 6:30 a.m., can unearth, expose and developed the next big sporting star out of Jamaica.
Wright said the event organisers (TriLife876) want to be at the forefront of one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and that exposing the sport as much as possible will give athletes the experience they need to advance further.
“We will have persons who would have had a taste of this and will look for more events locally and internationally.
“So once we can open it up and open it to a wide cross-section, then maybe we can find our next Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce or Usain Bolt,” he said.
“We will be able to find them and develop them so they can become world-beaters and that is where we are really looking at growing.”
The event, now branded the Court’s Sun City Triathlon Festival, was first staged in 2019 and is in its third edition.
Participants will compete in four disciplines including triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and aquabike, which is new.
He noted that there were also a variety of age groups which include 6-10, 10-12,13-15 and 16 and over.
“All our events are aimed at bringing persons into the sport. The aim is to cover the spread and create a level of equality in competitions.
“Persons who can’t do one discipline or may not have the equipment necessary, we try to open it so they feel welcome regardless of where they are in terms of fitness and equipment. It is a way to try and grow the sport as much as we can,” he said.
This year there are 105 entrants, compared to the 102 they had last time and Wright expects the competitions to go down to the wire.
“Persons are hungry for competition. So the interest is still there and we will have returning competitors and new ones.
“This year will be very competitive. We have the reigning male and female triathletes of the year in Israel, Allen and Rihanna Gayle, and we expect stiff competition for all the top athletes,” he said.
All participants will get a finisher’s medal, while podium finishers will get medals and special prizes.
“It is also a nice way of keeping fit and healthy. So this also focuses on the whole aspect of health,” he added.
Wright made it clear his organisation could not have held the event without their sponsors including the title sponsor, Courts, the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), MSR Engineering, Dentopia Dental, Gatorade, 876 Water, Petrojam, Guardsman, Waves Beach and the All-Hellshire Council Leadership.