The T&T Triathlon Federation (T&TTF), through a development grant from Americans Triathlon and the T&T Olympic Committee (T&TOC), hosted a week-long Development Regional Camp for triathletes aged 16-19, from September 8 - 13, 2024 ending with the Development Regional Cup Race on Saturday at Bon Accord, Tobago.
A total of eight athletes and five coaches representing six national federations (Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Puerto Rico, and T&T) took part in the camp, which was held in Bon Accord.
The camp ended with a Sprint Distance Triathlon Race (750m swim/20k ride and 5k run) for the 16-19 year old athletes, which featured nine boys and seven girls, inclusive of additional local 16-19 triathletes who joined the campers in Tobago for the race.
“The camp’s primary goal is to provide the opportunity to athletes and coaches from emerging nations to experience training and racing under the supervision of a World Triathlon expert.
This also gives athletes who are now entering elite status the exposure they need to step up from racing and training at the national level to the international level, which is faster and more intense, and what they will face when they start racing on the international circuit,” said Gabriela Gallegos, World Triathlon and Americas Triathlon Executive Board Member.
Karen Aurajo, president of the T&TTF and vice president of Americas Triathlon, also noted that “it is always a great experience to have new athletes and coaches attend these development camps. Seeing coaches from around the region invest their time and energy into providing their athletes with enriching experiences that will further develop their sporting careers is always a great thing to be a part of.”
The regional development camp was put on with the intent of providing coaches and athletes with the information, tools, and expertise they need to properly analyse their race performance and then use this knowledge to develop a better understanding of how to race with an improved level of understanding of all the factors required to consistently race better.
These development camps, which take place in different countries and at different times over the year, are exceptional as a unique opportunity for the development and growth of both an athlete and a coach.
The Development Regional Cup race is also an opportunity for local athletes to earn World Triathlon points, which helps them to elevate from developmental stage through to elite status, as these points give them the ability to compete beyond regional and on to international races.
Saturday’s event also hosted a Super Sprint distance race for local triathletes aged 13–15.
Having previously invested in Tobago in the sport of triathlon, which included a grass roots triathlon coaching session last year, the T&TTF continues to pave the way for races like this, as well as the certification of eight coaches at the event.
This Level One-certified group of coaches opens doors for more triathlon and multisport activities and events to take place in 2024/2025 and adds to the growth of sport tourism on the island. The T&TTF hopes to see the development of a school series on the island of Tobago within the next 24 months.
RESULTS
Sprint
Elite Men (Top Five)
1. Dylan Giel – Aruba – 1:03:27
2. Rey Velez – Puerto Rico – 1:04:14
3. Malcom Menzies – Bahamas – 1:04:16
4. Liam D’Abadie – T&T – 1:04:30
5. Tristan Scott – T&T – 1:06:15
Elite Women (Top Five)
1. Valentina Negron – Puerto Rico – 1:10:53
2. Isabella Fernandez – Puerto Rico – 1:11:51
3. Nina James – Grenada – 1:13:30
4. Ashley Thomas – T&T – 1:21:54
5. Riley Field – T&T – 1: 27:42
Super Sprint
Boys 13 - 15
1. Benjamin Carmino
2. Josiah Alexander
3. Karlon Browne
Girls 13 - 15
1. Leah De Freitas
2. Jaliyah Celestine
3. Ziya Livingston-Hosein