GIFFORD — Panting in part from exhaustion, 130 kids crossed the finish line at the Gifford Aquatic Center Saturday morning after completing the Super Kid Triathlon. Among those to finish strong was 9-year-old Tristan Trax, who came in first in the Boys 9-10 division.
“He’s very competitive,” his mom, Liz Trax, said from the sidelines as she waited to cheer for him.
His younger brother, Simon, 7, was anxiously waiting his turn to compete in the Boys 7-8 division. Simon said he thinks the biking would be his favorite because he rides his bike a lot.
As for participating in a triathlon, Simon said he wanted to do it “because it’s fun and it’s a sport.”
As for Tristan, he didn’t stop between ditching his bike and taking to the track for the final event – running. He started strong and finished well ahead of the others boys in his heat.
“He started walking at 7 months and he hasn’t stopped!” Liz said.
The Super Kid Triathlon serves as a way to introduce youth to various activities and stoke their interest in such endeavors.
The event is one of only a few in Florida that is meant for amateurs – a way to introduce them to triathlons. Others in the state are competitive, even for youth, according to Aquatics Supervisor Fawna Mavis.
Kids can “see what it’s like,” she said of the three-sport event, “and, like most people do, fall in love with it.”
Thirteen-year-old Maya Lindseth competed for the second year in a row in the Super Kid Triathlon, improving her standing over last year by taking first in her division.
“It was actually kind of fun,” she said as she watched a heat of the Boys 9-10 division race on the track.
For her, swimming was the best part because it’s where she is strongest.
“I like swimming,” she said. “I’m on a swim team.”
Family and friends lined much of the course, cheering on their young athletes. From the crowd one man quipped, “They’re going to sleep well tonight!”
Nine-year-old Kyle Zicari said he liked the challenge of the triathlon, which is why he came back again this year to compete.
“I think I did pretty well,” he said while wiping sweat from his brow.
While many said the bicycling leg of the triathlon was their favorite simply because they love to ride their bikes, Kyle had another reason.
“It was the hardest and I like the challenge,” he said. He noted the course felt longer to him this year than last and off-roading with the bike made it all the more challenging.
His mom, Candee Zicari, said she didn’t mind giving up her Saturday morning to take Kyle to the competition.
“It’s good and healthy for the kids to do,” she said, adding that triathlons are good sport.
She and other parents noted that it would be nice if the county were to hold more youth triathlons throughout the year – not just the annual event.
It’s a request currently under review, according to Mike Redstone, assistant director of the county’s recreation department.
He said the department is always looking for ways to improve the event, adding that there has also been some discussion about having some triathlon training to help prepare the young athletes for smoother transitions between the different legs of the competition.
“We’re all for new ways of doing things,” Redstone said.
