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Kids Triathlon return a summer hit

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 6 min read
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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Sisters Claire and Lily Brenneman as well as Mylah Kuzawinski show off the medals they earned for completing the Kids Triathlon.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Leah Brendel assists a fallen cyclist whose shoe laces caught in his bike gears during the Kids Triathlon. David Abushevich (No. 85) returned to the race and finished fourth in the 11-year-old male division. Brendel’s daughter, Kaia, finished fourth in the 10-year-old female division.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Christopher Webb explains to a young triathlete the procedures for transitioning on and off the bicycle during the Kids Triathlon.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Raffi Wilbur and Audrey Thompson negotiate a curve during the cycling portion of the Kids Triathlon.

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By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Koby Collins, 11, nears the finish line as he completes the third leg, a 1-mile run, during the Kids Triathlon.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

A South Park Wave Pool lifeguard assists a swimmer during the 50-meter swimming leg of the Kids Triathlon.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Owen, Mia and Greta Khanolkar apply colors to tie-dye their T-shirts during a break in the action at the Kids Triathlon. The event also featured a Lego build so participants could envision what it is like for Habitat For Humanity to construct houses for low-income families in the Pittsburgh community. In celebration of the event’s 20th anniversary, there was also a pizza party complete with cupcakes.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Race director Kristi Webb gives Iceburgh a warm greeting during his guest appearance at the Kids Triathlon

After a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Kids Triathlon held July 16 at the South Park Wave Pool drew rave reviews. In fact, Ruth O’Brien gave it two thumbs up.

“It’s one of the better years,” said the long-time race volunteer. “The crowd’s smaller because of the pandemic and people are probably doing their own thing right now like traveling. There are fewer people, which is sad, but it absolutely went well and ran smoothly.

“Once people realize it’s back, I am sure that future years will be like what we are accustomed to having.”

O’Brien added the Kids Triathlon, which raises funds for Habitat for Humanity, is an absolutely fantastic event that has survived the test of time and trials because of all involved.

“The people who run it make it special. The volunteers and certainly the people who sign up,” she added. “The little ones that participate and their parents who bring them here.”

The young athletes competed in a race that included swimming, cycling and running. Ages 7-9 completed a 50-meters or one width of the wave pool, biked one mile and run .5 mile while ages 10-12 covered twice the distance (100-meter swim, 2-mile bike and 1-mile run).

“It’s exciting to see the kids race,” said Karen Urbanowicz.

The Bethel Park resident works at Highmark Wholecare. She was one of the many volunteers along the race course assisting and cheering on the competitors.

“It’s interesting to see their determination. Some of them are really dedicated to this. But everybody that participated absolutely was having fun.”

According to Christopher Webb of Southpointe that is the objective as the Kids Triathlon attempts to balance the desires of the participants.

“You try to make it as fun as possible,” he said.

Webb has volunteered for the Kids Triathlon for 15 years since being “roped” into the event by the race director, Kristi Webb. She also happens to be his wife. The pair have a 5-year-old daughter, Stella.

Webb, who has competed in 50 triathlons, manages the cycling transition zone. He purchased the poles where the bicycles are hung.

“We wanted to make sure it’s as authentic as possible,” said Webb.

Webb recalled the formative years of the Kids Triathlon when the children had their own little spots and rugs to place their equipment in the grassy transition zone.

“Kids are completely used to it now,” he said. “This is exactly how things look. If they are doing an Ironman, this is how it would be set up.”

The Kids Triathlon is set up for fun and competition. All racers earned a medal upon completion of the course. Trophies were awarded to winners in the various age groups.

“Usually what we find is the kids who are super intense, their parents are intense and that’s usually in the older age groups,” said Webb. “The younger kids are here to have fun and their parents are worried about their safety. We try to calm them down about that.”

Webb noted that there are “tons” of volunteers that line the race course. Some help the kids get their bikes on and off the rack. Some help them with their shoes and helmets if necessary.

“We promote fun but we also are there to foster the kids who are trying to be competitive,” Webb said. “We want to try to get them their best performance.

“It’s all about just helping the kids out because it’s so exciting for them. It’s the Olympics to them. It’s not just a little triathlon. It’s the biggest deal in their whole summer maybe.”

In two years, his daughter will be eligible for the Kids Triathlon. Stella Webb, 5, recently completed her first 5K run. She ran in the Melanoma Run held in South Park.

“She’s not necessarily training to be a triathlete,” said Webb, “but she wants to. She’s super competitive.”

Although she is only 10, Claire Brenneman of Monongahela is driven. Blame her sister, Lily, 12.

“She’s a runner and I think it would be fun to do cross country with her,” explained Claire.

Claire said she trained with Lily in preparation for the Kids Triathlon.

“I practiced running with my sister because she does cross country and I biked at my house around the neighborhood.”

Despite the footwork, Claire found the swimming portion of the triathlon to be the easiest and the running the hardest.

“I was getting a side stitch. It was hurting when I ran,” she said.

Claire plans to return to South Park in 2023 to defend her title. While she finished first for her age, she admitted there was work to do.

“Definitely, I would do this again but I would train more running up hill,” she said. “I had a good time. It was fun.”

Lily enjoyed her race as well. She finished third for her age, needing 2:59 to complete the 100-meter swim but only 5:49 to run the mile.

“My favorite part was the running. I’m not very good at (swimming),” she admitted. “The biking was easy because it was all flat.

“I liked the event,” she added. “It was fun and for a good cause of building houses for people.”

Shona Baillie added camaraderie to the list of benefits from the event. She shared her experience, not to mention second-place showing in the Under-8 age group with her father, John, and younger brother, Jack, 2.

“My dad does triathlons and I take after him,” she said proudly. “I was pretty nervous at first but then when I got going, I felt pretty good. I’m tired and happy.”

Kristi Webb was basically both exhausted and thrilled after directing the event for the 15th time.

“Each year we welcome new athletes to the sport of triathlon,” she said. “When we ask them if they will be back next year most say ‘Yes!’ We look forward to seeing these impressive boys and girls carry on with the sport.

“We want to see triathlon grow in Pittsburgh and it starts here with these young enthusiastic athletes,” Webb concluded.

Three area athletes were among the top finishers in the 20th annual Kids Triathlon held July 16 at the South Park Wave Pool.

Elijah Clonan, 7, of Bethel Park won the under-8 men’s division in 17:15 while Enzo Hoffman, 10, also of BP, won the men’s age 10 group in 20:28.

Everly Morris, 7, of Venetia, finished first among the under-8 females. Her winning time was 15:35.

Other male age divisions winners included: Maxwell Todd (8), Dylan Thompson (9), Judah Sauers (11) and Ben Wtterson (12).

First-place finishers among the other females included: Audrey Thompson (8), Emilia Mavilla (9), Claire Brenneman (10), Brielle Emler (11) and Mia Monaco (12).

Visit runhigh.com for a complete list of results.

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