Zimpapers Logo

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
WITH this year’s Schweppes Water Troutbeck ATU Triathlon African Cup set for this weekend in Nyanga, last year’s silver medallist in the elite men’s category, Bob Haller from Luxembourg, feels he has what it take to triumph.

He is currently in South Africa where he is preparing for Saturday’s showcase and says he has had the best preparations after roping in two new technical personnel to help him in his training regime.

Hoping to finish the season in the world’s top 70, Haller says he is not taking any of his races this year lightly.

“My preparations for this season have been much better and longer than last year. I have two new coaches and so that works better for me.

“This year my main goal is to make it for the European Championships Elite in Lisbon and the Under-23 World Champs in Cozumel.

“Of course, all the races I chose are very important for the year and my overall ranking as I hope to finish in the top 65 at the end of the season on the ITU points list where I’m currently on 108th place,” said Haller.

With more than 14 foreign athletes expected to take part in this year’s edition of the Schweppes Water Troutbeck ATU Triathlon African Cup, Triathlon Zimbabwe are bracing themselves for a busy weekend.

Having released a provisional start list which shows that 14 foreign elite men and four foreign elite women have confirmed participation, last year men’s champion, South African Wian Sullwald, is not on the list.

Some of the athletes who have confirmed participation include Portugal’s Filipe Azevedo, the Luxembourg duo of Haller and Neil Peters — who finished second and third in last year’s competition — are also part of the men’s contingent.

However, it is in the women’s section where South African Cindy Schwulst will be able to defend the title she won last year.

Last year’s bronze medallist Mauritian Fabienne St Louis will also be part of the show.

Athletes will also come from Namibia, Mauritius, Morocco, Mexico, Germany, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Belgium.

South Africa are coming in with a team of at least 15 athletes.

This year’s Zimbabwe ATU Triathlon African Cup is expected to have more entries as this edition is also being used as part of the qualification process for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The accumulated points from June 2014 to the end of June 2016 for the athletes determine their qualification and only 65 men and 65 women will qualify for the Games.

Local athletes will also compete in the Zimbabwe National Championships and the Troutbeck Mile Open water swim. The HAC Worlds View 18km run will also be staged in Nyanga.

“This year, Triathlon Zimbabwe will be holding their Zimbabwe ATU Triathlon African Cup event at Troutbeck on the same weekend, so there will be plenty of activity,” HAC chairman Martin Webster said.

Provisional Start List

Elite Men: Filipe Azevado (Portugal), Ayan Beisenbayev Temirlan Temirov, Valentin Meshchermakov (Kazakhstan), Drikus Coetzee (Namibia), Christopher de Keysr (Belgium), Basson Engelbrecht (South Africa), Mehdi Essadiq (Morocco), Jaime Buganza (Mexico), Bob Haller (Luxembourg), Leong Law, Hul wai Wong (Hong Kong), Jonathan Zipf (Germany), Jonas Schomburg (Turkey).

Elite Women: Lauren Dance, Carlyn Fischer, Cindy Schwulst (South Africa), Fabienne St Louis (Mauritius).