South Park Kids Triathlon merits meaningful lessons for young athletes
Ryan Dougherty crosses the finish line during the Kids Triathlon held July 18 at the South Park Wave Pool. In its 15th year, the event raises money for Habitat for Humanity. It has been a record-breaking year for the organization so far with $72,605 in funds. The second in the triathlon series will be held Aug. 15 at North Park.
Zoe Poe completes the first lap of the 100-meter swim during the Kids Triathlon held at the South Park Wave Pool. The 10-year-old Bridgeville resident finished first among females for her age.
Balaji Alagar cycles his way through the second leg of the triathlon. Ages 7-9 biked one mile while ages 10-12 covered double that distance.
Rosemary Ramirez, 10, of Upper St. Clair creates a tie-dye shirt while waiting for her heat in the Kids Triathlon.
South Park Wave Pool lifeguard Josh O’Neil gives a young athlete a ride on the safety buoy as he endeavors to complete the 50-meter swim during the Kids Triathlon. The event also included cycling and running.
Jayla Hajiyev, 9, summons up the energy to complete the triathlon after climbing the hill, the hardest part of the running portion of the race.
Aydin Hajiyev, 7, cheers on his sister as she runs the final leg of the Kids Triathlon.
As Jayla Hajiyev crested the hill leading up to the South Park Wave Pool, the cowbells and cheers that greeted her proved insufficient to coax her to the finish line of the Kids Triathlon. Rather, her 7-year-old brother propelled her forward. Aydin Hajiyev, who had already finished his event, joined Jayla for the final 200-yard jog.
“I could tell she was really tired. It was really hard for her,” Aydin explained. “I really wanted us both to get to the finish.”
Of participating in a triathlon, Jayla said it definitely was a challenge. “For anybody,” she added. “Running at that point after biking and swimming is hard. Your belly aches and you feel you might get sick. But even though you are just tired and it’s hard, you have to keep going.”
Proud of their children’s teamwork and affection for each other, Krista and Ziya Hajiyev explained that they were even more delighted in the lessons Jayla and Aydin learned from participating in the 15th annual event, which raises funds for Pittsburgh Habit for Humanity.
“They worked very hard and we are especially proud they finished,” Krista and Ziya said. “They really do look out for each other. They had their struggles, but we are happy they did not give up. That’s a great lesson to learn.”
Because they compete for the Cloverleaf YMCA in Pleasant Hills, neither Jayla nor Aydin struggled with the swimming portion of the triathlon – 50 meters for ages 7-9; 100 for ages 10-12. While running merited Jayla’s attention, biking proved Aydin’s biggest challenge.
“Swimming was best because I always wake up in the morning and practice,” said Aydin. “Biking was hardest because I just started riding without training wheels.”
“It was great we had each other,” interjected Jayla. “I don’t know what we would do without each other. Aydin really helped me a lot.”
Rosemary Ramirez’s fan club really helped her complete her first Kids Triathlon held at the South Park Wave Pool Complex. Catalina Ramirez, too young to compete at age 6, created a ‘Go Rosemary’ sign to inspire her big sister. Her parents made sure Rosemary was properly trained.
“We took her to the track so she would know how far a mile was,” said Katie Talarico, a standout runner at Upper St. Clair High School and All-American at Princeton University. “Rosemary asked, ‘are you sure it’s four laps?'”
“We told her just to have fun,” said Jose Ramirez.
“That’s the key,” Katie added.
When she isn’t swimming, cycling or running, Rosemary enjoys playing the violin and piano. “Her true loves,” said her mother.
“There are a lot of different ways to be a person,” she added. “She doesn’t have to just do this. She can be a musician. That’s the beauty. She can be whatever she wants.”
John Clay Humphreys just wanted to be a finisher and the 11-year-old Peters Township resident achieved that goal. A veteran of three Kids Triathlons, he trained particularly hard for the swimming. The Upper St. Clair Swim Club member readily admitted biking and running were his best events. “But I practiced the swimming especially, because last year I wasn’t too good at it. I didn’t do very well in the pool so I really trained.”
Regardless of how hard they trained, running proved the most difficult segment of the triathlon for most of the young athletes. Ages 7-9 had to run a kilometer while ages 10-12 covered two kilometers. Both had to negotiate the “dreaded” hill.
“Running was hard, especially uphill,” said Alicia Riberich. “Biking was easy because all I had to do was pedal. I knew the hill was there,” admitted the 8-year-old South Park resident. “I thought about it the whole event.”
“Running was hard,” agreed Addison Arndt. “Mostly it’s because you are tired by then.”
No matter how exhausted he was, Brayden Wiggers was grateful for the opportunity to use his legs. The 8-year-old Bridgeville resident dedicated his triathlon to his grandfather, Paul Wiggers, 76, who has polio.
“He can’t walk,” explained Brayden, who finished first in his age group. “I might be tired but I wanted to do this for him.”
Wiggers had no illusions running would be his best event. He expected biking and swimming to outshine his footwork because he goes to the pool often and he lives in a cul du sac. “I can drive my bike up and down where we live all the time,” he said. “Running is the hardest because I’m not a real fast runner.”
While trophies were awarded to top overall finishers and place winners in each age group, all athletes received participation medals, congratulations from U.S. Representative Tim Murphy and WTAE Channel 4 personality Andrew Stockey from South Fayette, as well as a big thank you from Habitat for Humanity. Since its inception 15 years ago, the Kids Triathlon Series has raised more than $800,000 for affordable housing and has helped instill the value of community service in over 5,500 young participants. So far this year, the organization has raised a record-breaking amount of $72,605 with its triathlon in North Park still to be held Aug. 15.
“It’s great,” said Melissa and Ted Arndt of the Kids Triathlon, which their younger daughter, Delaney, is anxious to enter next year since she will be eligible to compete. “So nicely run. Positive atmosphere. Plenty of space. And there were lots of volunteers,” they added in awe.
“It’s a great message for kids to learn,” they continued. “To make a difference in ways they can.”
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