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Ellina Mhlanga

Senior Sports Reporter

AS the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck countdown continues, national coach Pamela Fulton is hopeful their juniors will utilise the home advantage to push for top spots in the Africa Junior Cup.

The event is scheduled for this Saturday at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga.

Zimbabwe will not be represented in the elite men and women sections this year.

Last year, they were represented by Greer Wynn in the women’s section. But this time around, there are no local entries.

However, Zimbabwe are looking forward to the Africa Junior Cup that runs concurrently with the Africa Cup.

Seven local juniors are up for competition in the junior men and junior women competitions. Matipa Mawere, Mandlenkosi Mthethwa and Duwan Botha are expected to compete in the junior men.

Anje Van As, Nicole Madya, Makanaka Mawere and Inkosinomusa Mthethwa are set to take part in the junior women.

There are several athletes from South Africa in both sections and one representative from Mozambique in the junior women.

“The junior category at Troutbeck has a very exciting field, with 10 men on the start line. Seven of these men coming from South Africa and three from Zimbabwe. There are nine ladies on the start list, four from South Africa, one from Mozambique and four from Zimbabwe.

“It will be a tough race for the Zimbabwean athletes but they will be having some home advantage, not having to adjust to too much change in altitude and also competing over a course they know well.

“I am very happy to see Makanaka Mawere back on the start list, returning from an injury. Matipa Mawere will be pushing hard after his disappointment in PE when he punctured and was unable to finish. “Duwan has had an excellent season improving from strength to strength. He has recently had two good solid races and he is determined once again to race to the best of his ability,” said Fulton.

South Africa have some of the top juniors and are likely to provide most of the competition for the Zimbabweans when they take to the course. Fulton said it’s exciting to see the South Africans coming for the Troutbeck event.

“Two South Africa male athletes to look out for are Shaun Wolfaardt and Kyle Erskine. They were both on the podium in PE (Port Elizabeth) and they have both just competed in Swakopmund, Namibia.

“Shaun competed in the elite category to gain experience, whilst Kyle won gold in the junior category.

“In the ladies’ field, Kadence Ribbink won bronze in PE and also competed in Namibia winning gold in the junior category.

“It is fantastic and very exciting that these athletes are also traveling to Zimbabwe and that our athletes have another opportunity to compete with them. “These three (Wolfaardt, Erskine and Ribbink) athletes have been at sea level for a couple of weeks and have been competing over completely flat courses. Troutbeck will be a complete contrast for them, having to adjust to altitude and an extremely hilly bike and run course,” said Fulton.