Habitat For Humanity Triathlon in South Park a success for young athletes
Lifeguard Gabriella Owens-DeMarco assists a swimmer as she crosses the 50-meter South Park Wave Pool during the Kids Triathlon
Chase Dustevich, Cody Hendrych-Bondra, Kaylie Conway, Mackenzie Conway, River Hendrych-Bondra and Mia Geudtner all competed in the Habitat For Humanity Kids Triathlon.
Mia Geudtner, 12, of Bethel Park, swims the 100-meter course at the South Park Wave Pool during the first leg of the Kids Triathlon
Kaylie Conway, 9, of Bethel Park, negotiates the cycling portion of the Kids Triathlon.
Quinn Miller and Brenna Schmitz enjoy treats after completing the Kids Triathlon
Rhiannon Diffendal, 8, approaches the finish line with a smile on her face.
Chase Dustevich of Mt. Lebanon races up the hill during the final leg of the Kids Triathlon. After swimming 100 meters and biking two miles, Dustevich had to run a mile.
U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, talks to the young athletes before the start of the Kids Triathlon.
The optimum word at a kids’ triathlon is fun. And nearly 140 youth, ages 7-12, experienced that thrill of competition during the 17th annual Habitat For Humanity event held July 15 at the South Park Wave Pool complex.
“I was happy I did this,” said Enrique Ochoa, 9, his face streaked with sweat and some tears after completing a course that featured a 50-meter swim, one mile bike race and a half-mile run. “I’m not very good but it was fun.”
“It was very, very exciting,” added Rhiannon Diffendal. At age 8, she competed in the event for the first time and fond the cycling portion of the race much to her liking.
“Probably the biking,” she said when asked what was easiest. “I’m really good at biking. Running was the hardest. I walked most of it. It’s pretty much exhausting but I wanted to do it so I could show my mom that I could run.”
Owen Wiggers of Bridgeville showed he could do a triathlon on his own. Usually, his brother races but Brady bagged this year’s event to visit his grandparents, Bob and Debbie Birtalan, in Florida.
“He’s never been there before,” explained Owen’s mother, Stephanie Wiggers. “It’s one-on-one time for them.”
“He even caught a fish. A croaker,” exclaimed Owen.
Once he overcame his pre-race jitters, Owen himself bagged a prize. The 8-year-old placed second in his age group, covering the short course in 12:33.
“I was really, really nervous,” Owens explained.
He even considered not competing.
“He’d never done one before so I asked him if he’d consider doing it if I bought him a milkshake,” said Mrs. Wiggers. “Owen felt better after the shake. ‘Yes, I’ll do it,’ he said.”
Attending the pre-race meeting also settled Owen’s nerves. The meeting reviewed the course and parameters for the event.
“I knew the bike course. I knew the track and the swimming was the easiest because it was just one lap across,” said Owen, who swims at Chartiers Country Club in the swimmer and for PEAQ during the winter months.
“None of them was hard. The bike is the easiest because it’s not running but it’s best when you see that finish line.”
Indeed, for after the competitors received their completion medals, they headed straight for the refueling stations. Those tables featured Eat’n Park Smiley Cookies, bagels with cream cheese toppings, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, bananas and water.
Brenna Schmitz reached for the donut while Quinn Miller opted for the bagel. The 9-year-old South Fayette residents finished fourth and sixth respectively in their age group, which was dominated by Abby Poe with a winning time of 10:26, fastest among all athletes in the 7-9 age group.
“I usually don’t get to have (doughnuts) because my mom is a dietician,” Brenna said.
Brenna’s mom is also a seasoned runner and has participated in marathons.
“I’ve run with her a few times,” Brenna said.
When asked if she wanted to grow up to be like her mom, Brenna paused. “Well,” she said. “I’d like to be a little less healthier than her because I like doughnuts.”
Though Quinn picked the healthier choice, she did slather her bagel with cream cheese, explaining she liked the cheese and that she also enjoys running best out of the three events in a triathlon.
“The course was fun and the event was fun and I like getting the exercise because it enables me to burn off the calories so I can eat something like this bagel,” she said.
Though the two compete for the Hunting Ridge Swim Club, they found that portion of the triathlon challenging.
For Chase Dustevich, the 12-year-old Mt. Lebanon resident was not only participating in his first triathlon, he was also forced to compete longer. Distances were doubled for each leg of the race in the older age division.
“I was a little nervous because I had never done one before,” said Dustevich.
But, Dustevich is a swimmer and a runner. He is a member of the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club and he has competed in 5K races, including the J.R. Taylor Memorial Run, held annually on the Montour Trail by the bridge in BP.
Dustevich raced against his friends, Cody Hendrych-Bondra and Mia Geudtner. The 12-year-olds are members of the Bethel Park Swim Club. “Swimming and running. We’re good at that,” Cody said. “Biking, not so good.”
In their last year of eligibility, Chase and Cody finished third and fifth in their age groups while Mia was fourth after having finished first (twice), second and fourth in her previous South Park Triathlons.
“It like the competition and I like doing this with my friends,” Mia said. “It’s a good time.”
Bethel Park residents and sisters, Kaylie Conway, 9, and Mackenzie Conway, 10, enjoyed racing with their friend, River Hendrych-Bondra, 10. River, like Mackenzie, has successfully competed in four previous Kids Triathlons at South Park. River won her age group for the third time.
“I like it. It’s fun to do even if you don’t place,” River said.
Mackenzie agreed. She said she continued to comeback to the race because “it’s fun competition.” Plus, she know her entry fee is going to support Habitat For Humanity. “It’s going to a good cause to support people that don’t have homes.”
Kaylie concurred. “It’s really, really fun and it’s nice to give money for charity,” she added.
NOTE: Visit runhigh.com for complete race results.