Team Bahamas posts top times at the 2nd Caribbean Triathlon

Congratulations to all the Bahamian triathletes who competed in the 2nd Caribbean Triathlon Championships in Key Biscayne on April 30th. We look forward to seeing you all in Grand Bahama on November 4th for the 31st running of the GBPA Conchman Triathlon

Written by Renaldo Dorsett

The Tribune Team Bahamas delivered a series of impressive performances against the top triathletes in the region last weekend.The team turned in some of the top times at the second edition of the Caribbean Triathlon and Duathlon Championships, hosted April 30 in Key Biscayne, Florida.

In the Olympic Triathlon, Mark Dietrich and Simone Bertoldo led the Bahamian contingent and finished second and third overall respectively. Dietrich finished in a total time of 2:22:29.19 secs while Bertoldo followed closely behind in 2:22:47.35 secs.

Simon Lowe finished fifth in 2:30:47.69 secs and first among the Male 30-34 Age Group.Kelly Kramp was seventh overall in 2:31:27.65 secs and second amongst his group, Male 55-59. His pace was less than one second behind the division’s top finisher.

Jonathan Pendlebury also finished second in his age group, Male 35-39 and was 15th overall in 2:52:30.98 secs.Among the competitors in the Sprint Triathlon, Sean Andrews was first among Male Masters and seventh overall in 1:00:46.06 secs. Just behind him was Cameron Roach who finished first in the Male 35-39 and eighth overall in 1:00:55.42 secs.

Mark Davies was the top finisher in the Male 55-59 and 15th overall in 1:04:56.18 secs followed by Mario Carey, second in the division at 1:08:19.53 secs.

Elizabeth Shaddock was the second female to finish the course with her time of 1:11:22.25 secs and Ben Derbyshire was third in the Male 16-17 in 1:11:43.48 secs.

Lori Roach finished first overall in the Female Masters with her time of 1:12:17.02 secs, No 21 in the field while Katherine Bowers finished one spot behind at 1:15:46.70 secs for the top spot in the Female 40-44 division.

Sarah Farrington won the top spot in the Female 45-49 in 1:22:21.22 secs while Thomas Bowers was fourth overall in the Male 14-15 in 1:23:23.08 secs.

In the Sprint Duathlon, Kathryn de Sousa was the top Female finisher and was fourth overall in 1:15:10.82 secs.

Justin Higgs finished one spot behind, fifth overall and first in the Male 18-24 division in 1:18:22.64 secs.

Kordero St Cyr was the first finisher in the Male 30-34 and seventh overall in 1:19:42.16 secs.The lone competitor for the Bahamas in the Aquabike, Dorian Roach took first place in 1:54:56.60 secs.

The event featured athletes ages 12 and older. Male and female winners in each event, each age group and division received an award and will be named Caribbean Triathlon/Duathlon Aquabike Age Group Champion.

The standard triathlon included a 0.5 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike and 6.2 mile run. The sprint triathlon comprised a 0.25 mile swim, 10 mile bike and 3.1 mile run while the duathlon includes a one mile run, 10 mile bike and 3.1 mile run.

The event consisted of triathletes from several Caribbean islands, including the Bahamas, Granada, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, US Virgin Islands, Haiti, and Barbados.

In 2016, the Bahamas’ team came away with 16 podium finishes, including 11 first places awards.Several races now fill the country’s triathlon calendar - three brand new in the last three years.

With the Conchman, Potcakeman, Pineappleman, UWC, Great Abaco Family Fitness Weekend, Breeze-a-thon and BMC Dri Tri, the popularity of the sport has increased over the years.