ROHRMAN SPORTS ASSOCIATION

Aurelien Raphael is the latest stellar name to be added to a growing list of world-class triathletes set to compete in the AUA Rohrman Antigua Triathlon slated for Saturday, March 9th, 2019 at Ffreyes Beach. Aurélien was the European Junior Champion in 2006 and Junior World Champion in 2007 and has continued on to become one of the top triathletes in the world today. The years 2014 and 2016 were golden seasons with Aurélien winning a gold medal at the Quarteira ETU Triathlon European Cup in both years. In 2017 he won the Tongyeong ITU Triathlon World Cup and the following year he placed third in the 2018 France Sprint Triathlon National Championships. Aurelien comes in place of last year's Rohrman champion David Hauss who had to withdraw due to personal reasons. Hauss, a European Champion, and 4th placed Olympian won the AUA Rohrman Antigua in 2017 and 2018, so his absence this year means there is guaranteed to be a new Rohrman champion crowned on March 9th. 

30-year-old Aurélien will face stern competition including from the younger 29-year-old Barbadian Olympian Jason Wilson who he last faced in 2017. Wilson has 7 podium finishes and 2 wins on the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Circuit compared to 18 podiums and 8 wins for the Frenchman. Wilson's Barbadian compatriot Oein Josiah, a former Barbados national champion, is among other top regional contenders who will also have to contend with Antigua & Barbuda's national champion Jeffery Kelsick. Rising junior French triathlete Remy Sichel is also among favourites for the men's Olympic distance race. On the women's front New Zealander Andrea Hewitt will be back to defend her AUA Rohrman title for the third year running. Hewitt is one of the most accomplished triathletes in the world with 37 podiums and 10 wins on the international circuit and a 6th, 8th and 7th placed finish in the last three Olympic Games. She will face competition from Switzerland's Elisa Whitehouse who is coming off the back of an impressive win in the Barbados National Triathlon Championships in 2018. Locally Margarita Fernandez, Alisha David, and Lindsay Duffy will be among the strong competitors in the Olympic distance race.

The day will also see fierce competition in the junior age groups in which local athletes can qualify for the Carifta Triathlon Championships in Jamaica in August. Junior teams are flying in from Trinidad & Tobago & Barbados to provide stern competition for Antigua & Barbuda's budding young triathletes.

The day will feature 10 triathlons with age groups from 6&under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15, a Mini Distance Individual, Mini Distance Team Relay, Sprint Distance, the feature Olympic Distance Individual, and an Olympic Distance Team Relay. Close to 150 persons will compete in the AUA Rohrman Antigua on Saturday 9th March at Ffreyes Beach with over 300 persons set to compete in the Jumby Bay Fund Rohrman Barbuda on Sunday, March 10th at River Wharf, Barbuda.

The AUA Rohrman Antigua is a non-profit initiative sponsored by the American University of Antigua, Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Tourism, Jumby Bay Fund, Sugar Ridge, Tamarind Hills, Cool & Smooth, Cedars Pottery, Soufriere Spring Water, Barbuda Council, Barbuda Ocean Club, National Olympic Committee, Stonewall Sounds, Island Sanitation, Special Security Services, Antigua VIP Tours, and SO Ltd.