Abu Dhabi: Seventeen-year-old Abdullah Attiyah from AMA International School took the first place in the Under-18 Super Sprint while Jasmin Grey triumphed in the ladies category of the biggest triathlon weekend in capital’s history.
In all, over 250 multisport youngsters took their marks on the iconic Corniche here on Friday, to compete in one of the largest and most exciting junior sporting events in the region – The Aquathlon.
The Aquathlon was raced in three formats - ‘Tiny Triathlete’ for the Under-8 age group where participants completed a 50m swim and a 100m run. The ‘Junior’ distance was a 200m swim and a 1.5km run for youngsters between 8-15 years old and the ‘Super Sprint’ featured a 375m swim and a 2.5km run aimed at 11-17 year olds.
“The race was a fight till the end and then on the run was crazy. Toby, who was close behind, is a really amazing runner; I gave everything I got to beat him and it wasn’t easy,” said an elated Abdullah who clocked 00:14:14 to clinch the top spot.
“This is my first time racing in Abu Dhabi and it has been a fantastic experience so far. Now that I am done with today’s race my focus is on performing just as well in tomorrow’s Sprint race,” added Attiyah who has flown in with the Bahrain National Team to compete in both The Aquathlon and the IPIC World Triathlon Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
In the girls’ section it was thirteen-year-old Jasmin Grey, from the British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi, who secured the first place.
“What an extraordinary course! It was a great feeling racing on the same course that the world’s best triathletes will be racing on tomorrow. I really enjoyed the swim and the run! It was a little challenging but I got there in the end,” she said.
Apart from the participants, event organisers too were delighted with the success of The Aquathlon and with the large turnout of participants and spectators at the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
“The motivation and determination on the faces of youngsters crossing the finish line was magical. We are glad we could offer UAE’s youth the chance to compete right here in Abu Dhabi on the same power-packed course that will be contested by Olympic and World Champions,” said Local Organising Director, Iain Banner.
“To witness hundreds of participants and spectators really enjoy themselves out on the beach in this lovely weather today is very encouraging and we hope to continue supporting the growth of the sport at the grassroots level,” he added.
Meanwhile the IPIC World Triathlon Abu Dhabi, featuring some of the world’s greatest triathletes gets underway on Saturday at the same venue. Reigning world champion Javier Gomez and Olympic bronze medallist Jonathan Brownlee are pitted in the men’s event while 2014 world champion Gwen Jorgensen and compatriot Sarah Groff from America will fight it out for the top spot in the women’s category. This is the opening round of the 2015 ITU World Triathlon Series (WTS) and the first WTS race to be held in the Middle East.
