Bullish Mawere eyeing triathlon success
MAKANAKA MAWERE is gunning for a podium finish at the African Triathlon Union Junior Triathlon Cup at Troutbeck Resort here today.
For the third year running, the event is running concurrently with the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup, at the same venue.
And, Mawere is one of the favourites to land the women’s junior elite crown although she faces stiff competition from defending champion, Kira Ribbink, of South Africa.
Mawere won bronze in the African Championships in Egypt, three months ago, and has been nursing an injury, which hampered her preparations.
“I picked up a shoulder injury at the African Championships in June. That made my training, especially swimming, a bit difficult,’’ she said.
“I am now fully fit and I believe I will be able to do well in this meet.
“I am not expecting an easy run but it’s going to be very exciting. I am aiming for a podium finish.
‘’I am gunning for gold but any podium finish will be fine for me.”
She said she will have to be at her best physically, and mentally, if she is to outsmart Ribbink.
“She is a really strong competitor but I am going to push myself and try not to give up.
“I should always remember to be mentally strong.
“The conditions are a bit difficult, the competitors are strong and they can push themselves to the limit and I know I have to keep reminding myself to keep going, I will only rest when I am done.
“I raced in the African Championships in June and I came third. That was a real boost for me and I started believing in my abilities, more and more.’’
The 17-year-old Hellenic student clocked seventh place, when she made her debut in the event.
“Last year, I raced here, it was more of a test case and I came out seventh. This time around, I have to punch hard and get to the podium.
“I think my best is my run. I have been running since I was five-years-old, so my run is certainly my best.
“I am still trying to improve my cycling as I only started cycling when I was about 15-years-old.’’
Mawere will race against compatriot, Jessica Fuller, in the same event and they will also have to content with another South African star, Anika Visser, as well as Josette Njeri of Kenya.
Forty-five-year-old Wynn Greer will battle it out in the elite women category, against the South African pair of Bridget Theunissen and Hannah Newman, aiming to hoist high the country’s flag.
The trio of Marcel Pauser, David Knox and George Ascott will represent Zimbabwe in the men’s junior elite, while the country has no representative in the men’s elite race.
Kazakh star, Ayan Beinbayev, is the strong favourite to land the title he won five years ago.
In a statement yesterday, the meet’s sponsors, Coca-Coca, who are bankrolling the event through their Bonaqua brand, expressed satisfaction over the manner everything has panned out.
“As the Coca-Cola Company and our bottling partner, Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, we are pleased to sponsor this event, which has been of great value to the country, and to the athletes,’’ said Faith Nehanda, Coca-Cola Zimbabwe frontline marketing portfolio activation manager.
“Triathlon has been a good model, when it comes to promoting sports tourism.
“In particular, we are delighted by the number of participants this year. We want to thank other corporates, who also sponsor the Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union, such as Toyota, Bon Marche, Cimas and Rooney’s.
“It is through such mutual interests, and commitment to plough back to society, that together we can develop our sports.
“The high number of Zimbabwe junior triathletes is an indication that the future of triathlon sport is bright.
“Some of them recently won medals in South Africa.”
Apart from the elite and junior races, other supporting events include an African Cross-Triathlon (Off-Road) Championship, Schweppes Corporate Triathlon Challenge, Zimbabwe Triathlon Championships over a number of events, Tri-Kidz and Trisports triathlon, Aquathlon (run-swim-run) and an Open Water Swim, all under the banner of the Bonaqua Troutbeck Multisport Festival.