June triathlon to draw 803 kids

GEOFF LEE WRITER

Swim, bike and run. The next ATB Financial Lloydminster Triathlon will take place at Bud Miller All Seasons Park on June 16 involving kids from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

An extra individual age group has been added this year with 803 student-athletes from the public and Catholic school divisions taking part in partnership with the City of Lloydminster.

Race director and École St. Thomas interim principal, Anthony Bender, says numbers are up from a year ago in what was a comeback-year from the pandemic.

“The division is very similar to when we used to run it before COVID where about half of the people are individuals and the other half are teams,” explained Bender. congestion and confusion of kids having to run through the busy finish area by the pool more than once.

“We’re going to change that up so instead of coming past the finish line, they’re only going to go the finish line when they’re finished,” said Bender.

What hasn’t changed is the educational aspect of the triathlon.

“There’s about 200 kids who are individuals and about 200 teams with 600 kids.”

The Bioclean Aquatic Centre is the venue for the swim, with the bike and runs on park paths over various distances for age groupers.

Bender says there is a slight tweak to one of the loops to eliminate

“Maybe if you’re less confident to do it on your own, it teaches you teamwork because you have to work with two other people to accomplish it,” said Bender.

“I think what’s happened over the years is those students have become confident to do it themselves.”