Tri-athletes gearing up for Commonwealth Youth Games

Trinidad and Tobago’s triathlon trio of James Castagne-Hay, Jenae-Marie Price and Liam d’Abadie will use their final days in Trinidad to climax preparations ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Tobago.

The three will compete in the individual boys and girls triathlon events on August 6, and then one of the boys teams up with Price for the mixed team relay event, two days later.

Each tri-athlete has an individual coach for their swim, bike and run aspects of the race. The likes of swim coach Edward Tuberoso, triathlon coach Jonah Camps, veteran cyclist Gene “Geronimo” Samuel and distance runner Richard Jones are among the experienced group guiding them.

The team is also being managed/coached by Diana Harrinauth.

She said, on Tuesday, that preparations are coming along nicely so far, despite the little nerves ahead of the trio’s biggest competitive stage yet.

Castagne-Hay, d’Abadie and Price are also part of TT’s team for the upcoming Carifta Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships.

This weekend, Harrinauth confirmed that Price and her compatriot will practice their relay efforts.

For the individual triathlon, the women’s and men’s events are a combination of a 375m open water swim, 10km cycle and 2.5km run, completed in immediate succession.

In the mixed team relay (one male, one female), each athlete is required to complete a course of a 200m open water swim, 5km cycle and 1.25km run, before tagging their teammate in the relay exchange zone.

Each athlete completes the triathlon twice in the following order; boy-girl-boy-girl.

Harrinauth said, “The kids are excited and nervous because this their first major international competition. It’s an honour for all of us to represent.

“They have worked hard to reach this point where they can be selected for this event. They earned that spot at the qualifier in March in Buccoo Bay.”

Harrinauth said the team arrives in Tobago on August 2 and will use their pre-competition days to familiarise with each course at Buccoo.

She added, “We do have the experience of swimming on that beach, running and biking on a similar course and they know what to expect.”