TRIATHLON Zimbabwe coach Pam Fulton has commended the team’s performance at the weekend’s Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union Cup that was held in Nyanga.
The local athletes got two podium finishes courtesy of Junior Women star Makanaka Mawere and her Elite counterpart Greer Wynn who raced her legs off against the youthful South African ladies.
South Africa Junior Women hotshot and reigning Junior Women African champion Kira Ribbink once again took gold over the weekend to make it two gold medals in succession. Anika Visser, also of South Africa, was the second-fastest athlete in the same race. At the same time, Josette Njeri of Kenya and Zimbabwe’s Jessica Fuller settled for fourth and fifth place, respectively.
In the Junior Men race, George Ascott narrowly missed out on third place a few seconds behind. South Africa’s Roussow Venter won the Junior Men race, and Kyle Erskine was in second, while JG van der Westhuizen from Namibia broke the hearts of the local fans when he outpaced Ascott to win bronze.
Greer (45) was breathing heavily on the necks of the youthful South African pair of Hannah Newman and Bridget Theunissen, respectively, for the Elite Women, who finished in first and second place.
“What a fantastic weekend of racing, so excited to be there at Troutbeck. Regarding our Junior Ladies, great to have Makanaka Mawere back on the podium, considering she’s about to start her important exams. She has been studying hard, so to still manage to podium, fantastic effort by her,” Fulton told EnterSportNews.
“Also, George Ascott, what an exciting, exciting race to watch him fight it out for the fourth position between JG from Namibia. It’s s unfortunate to peep him at the post to win bronze medal, so fantastic effort by George; really proud of him.
“In the Elite category, it’s great to have Greer Wynn back on competing for Triathlon. This is a lady who’s been involved in the sport for over 30 years. For her to competing against South Africa’s top up and coming elite athletes, two young ladies who are in their early 20s for Greer to podium and be relatively close to these two ladies, in the end, was really really proud of Greer for what she did.”
