6th PEISAA “TRITON” TRIATHLON : School Sport Canada

P.E.I. School Athletic Association triathlon triumphed in Summerside with 118 participants.

©Desiree Anstey/ Journal Pioneer

The 6th annual P.E.I. School Athletic Association triathlon triumphed on Victoria Day with 118 participants.

Students from 13 high schools around the Island, including many teachers, engaged in a swim, cycle and run course centered around Credit Union Place in Summerside.

C.J. Studer, the athletic director at Athena Consolidated High School and behind the event, says there’s no medals or trophies.

“There’s no first, second or third place. It’s all for the fun of trying something new and going out there. Some kids work really hard and others just do it for fun, but either way we accept them,” he said. “But we do try to follow the rules of Triathlon P.E.I. to make it as real as possible.”

Students from grade seven to 12 gathered for the P.E.I. School Athletic Association triathlon that started at 10 a.m. and finished at 1 p.m. on Monday.

Lexy Mooney, 18, from Montague Regional High school smiles as she sprints to the finish line at the Credit Union Place in Summerside.

©Desiree Anstey/ Journal Pioneer

“This year the Triathlon Excellence Award went to Athena Consolidated and Montague Regional high schools,” explained Studer. “The award goes to the school that has the highest participants by school population.”

More than 60 volunteers – teachers and students – spent their day helping out.

Sawyer Gauthier from Bluefield High School gets into high gear as he races down Rufus Street towards Water Street on his bike in the Senior level of the triathlon.

©Desiree Anstey/ Journal Pioneer

Karen Farag, 16, from Three Oaks Senior High School says it’s a test of endurance.

Karen Farag, 16, from Three Oaks Senior High School has competed in the triathlon every year. “I keep coming back every year because it’s like an individual competition for me and I’m trying to push myself to see what I can do,” she said.

©Desiree Anstey/ Journal Pioneer

“I keep coming back every year because it’s like an individual competition for me and I’m trying to push myself to see what I can do,” said Farag. “You need that desire to go out to the pool, take your bike out, and go running.

“I usually start training a month before and swim every few days, ride my bike, and I do track and field, so I do run with the school. But I’m in it just for the fun, although when I finish the triathlon my legs are dead am I’m probably going to sleep for the next 12-hours.”

Farag continued, “But I also have that satisfaction I don’t have with any other thing because when I look back I see how far I pushed myself and I completed it.”

Ross Power, 17, from Montague Regional High School participated in the triathlon for the first time.

Ross Power, 17, from Montague Regional High School participated in the triathlon for the first time. “Once it got to the run I felt like a million bucks and I just pushed through and felt good,” he said.

“It was fun and a good way to test my fitness for other sports, but swimming was definitely the hardest part because I didn’t have much practice,” he said. “But once it got to the run I felt like a million bucks and I just pushed through and felt good.”

Distances:

Teacher and Senior: swim – 300 metres (12 lengths)/ bike – 14 kilometres (4 laps)/ run – 2.7 kilometres.

Intermediate: swim – 250 metres (10 lengths)/ bike – 10.8 kilometres (3 laps)/ run – 2.7 kilometres.

Bantam: swim – 200 metres (8 lengths)/ bike – 10.8 kilometres (3 laps)/ run – 1.5 kilometres.