Swaleh Balala Wins Nationa Triathline Series in Kasaranil
The Source: coastweek.com/ - 30/04/2009
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It was a great jubilation and fun filled weekend
as the National and iSikh Community Triathlon event took the centre stage to attract over 150 athletes and many of jubilant supporters and parents who braved the cold stadium to cheer the participants. Swaleh, who just turned 16th on the race day was anxious during the morning part. Its was his first event out of home ground and also one important race as all the athletes were gearing to get the top price. Mombasa , Eldoret and Nairobi were represented. When the horn blew, it was a neck to neck swim portion between Swaleh and the best of the young triathlete from Nairobi George Kariuki. At the last corner in the 7.5 lap 50m swimming pool, George managed to take the lead as Swaleh was seen to be breathless in the cold waters.As they entered the transition one, George who is in his best form, took the lead in the first two laps. Reginald Lusala from Kericho who is 28 years old managed to catch up with the young athletes and Swaleh decided to stick up with him.The race became more interesting as the athletes were all fighting for the carbon frame which is one special frame and costs Ksh 160,000The athletes took part in a series of events and all had good rankings in terms of points. Swaleh was in a clear lead of 2.5minutes and this was the most important thing to the young triathlete who is setting his eye to the All Africa Triathlon Champs in Durban in July and also the Junior Olympics in 2010 in Singapore .As the athletes were coming to the final bend, Reginald was sprinting to the finish and Swaleh managed to keep up with him.When asked about the achievement, Swaleh said that it was the toughest race in the high altitude. Among the girls athletes, the young IRON girls, Ahliyah Mussa and Maurine Nyawira, were all outstanding performance. Their opponent, Alice Nyanjiru Muhuhu from Makini school was a close race compared to the male athletes.Maurine took the lead in the swim and instead of covering the 7.5 lengths of the swim, she did an extra lap.Alice and Ahliyah came out of the swim and into the bike and went all the way to the finish bike into the run portion.Ahliyah, now was getting her strength and she was moving at a very good pace. As the athletes were coming to the last lap of the run, Ahliyah had a clear 200m lead when she suddenly stopped and was having stomach problem.As the medical team was approaching, she was vomiting and this gave way to Alice to overtake her. As the finish line was less than a kilometer, Ahliyah did not want to quit the race and she started chasing up for Alice . It was a show of determination and will that the young triathlete had.Closely behind them, in third position Maurine came in to the finish line with 4 minute improvement from her previous personal best time. Mustafa Sheikh Hussein, the youngest triathlete also was the Silver medalist as the cold weather did not stop him from the race. The athletes are now looking forward to the Aquathlon that will be held at their training camp that will be organized by Abdulaziz Mohamed next month. The Team is also looking forward to one of the toughest triathlon events in Africa that will be an XTERRA Triathlon which will be held at YULs and the Butterfly farm in Bamburi.
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