LOCAL TRIATHLETES PREPARE TO TAKE ON REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS IN THE WADADLI TINMAN Friday 25th November 2011
Antigua and Barbuda’s top national triathletes are welcoming the news that they will now have to battle regional and international heavyweights for the title of the Digicel Wadadli Tinman on January 29th 2012.
Claudio Delpeuche, who is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished triathletes to come out of Argentina, is now the clear favourite for the island’s first ever half-iron distance triathlon ahead of the Caribbean’s own star in Nevisian Reginald “Reggie” Douglas.
But Antigua and Barbuda’s national triathletes are far from tapping out under the weight of the challenge and are confident they will be able to make the country proud.
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| Andre Simon |
National triathlete Andre Simon said “I never back down from a challenge. I am looking forward to it and I feel I am at an advantage since I already know the guys strong points. I just got to plan out my race to use it to my advantage. I am looking forward to the challenge and definitely want to keep the (Digicel Wadadli) Tinman trophy in the hands of an Antiguan”.
24 year old Simon has only been competing in the sport for the past two years and is relatively young in a sport where athletes often peak in their late 30’s.
However the young Simon has seen success follow him already picking up titles and medals at every race he made it to last season including; a 1st place in St. Kitts and Nevis, a 3rd place in Barbados and the OECS sprint title in Grenada.
The former national runner has also seen marked improvements in the three disciplined sport under the tutelage of Delpeuche himself and feels ready to step up to the more challenging distance.
Simon has also had immense help on the ground too with; running Coach Leroy Williams fine tuning his running, Rebel Racing providing a guiding hand in the cycling and a number of different swim clubs helping out his swimming.
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| Wayne Henry |
Wayne “Ironman” Henry is another national triathlete expected to have a shot at keeping the Digicel Wadadli Tinman trophy at home despite recently having his stranglehold on the sport in Antigua and Barbuda being broken by the likes of Simon.
The 43 year old may not have the pace of his younger competitors but in an endurance race that is expected to take upwards of five hours, strategy can play a crucial role and Henry will be hoping to earn his advantage there.
Mental toughness, nutrition strategy, refuelling, pacing, cadence levels, climbing and descending plans will all have to be taken into consideration and Henry will be calling on his vast experience to ensure he nails each one of those right.
However Henry is remaining humble for now and said “My main hope for the Tinman is just to complete it and encourage others to do it and also show them that they can do it”.
But it’s not all about Simon and Henry for Antigua, as American University of Antigua student Jonathon Rohr could yet prove the one most able to keep the trophy on home soil.
Having tasted success on US soil Rohr is currently challenged with balancing an unenviable work load at AUA with training but he is up for the challenge.
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| Jonathon Rohr |
"It’s really anyone's race, there will be a lot of strong athletes competing. What will be interesting is to see how the lead changes hands as we move from the swim, to the ride, and then on to the run. It doesn't matter what place you're in until the finish line,” Rohr said.
Organizing member of the Digicel Wadadli Tinman Cleofoster added of Rohr “He’s one of Andre’s toughest challengers in training, he’s there with him in the run and he pretty much destroys him in the swim so leaving Andre only with the bike so it’s going to be pretty interesting. Definitely too tight too call”.
Other local favourites for the race include Graeme Swatton and Lindsay Duffy, in the female category, while a surprise victor could yet spring from any of a number of other entrants expected for the race.
The Digicel Wadadli Tinman is a unique sporting challenge where individual or team competitors in four sports – swimming, cycling, running and triathlon compete over a gruelling 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile cycle and 13.1-mile run.
The Digicel Wadadli Tinman is made possible by support from its sponsors Digicel, OBSERVER Media Group, American University of Antigua (AUA), Xtreme Health and Fitness, Cedars Pottery and Adventure Antigua.
This event is hosted by Wadadli Triathlon Club and endorsed by Antigua & Barbuda Triathlon (ABTRI) Association and Ministry of Sports.
The deadline for registration is December 1st and registration forms can be dropped off at Xtreme Health and Fitness on Friars Hill road.
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