Elected unopposed, new Jamaica Triathlon Association President Carl Sharpe, is bent on raising his sport’s profile and increasing participation according to a report in the Jamaica Gleaner.
With that in mind, Sharpe’s administration is planning to launch a schools’ championship soon. Allied to that in Sharpe’s plan for the future is the introduction of Triathlon Relays.
The association’s focus on youngsters drew a parallel with Flora Duffy, Bermuda’s Olympic Women’s Triathlon Champion.
“Flora Duffy is not an overnight success. She actually had been practicing Triathlon since she was a child and she has really reached her peak now,” Sharpe explained.
“Really, so proud of her, really, but it’s not a case of her just emerging just yesterday or anything like that.”
Thanks to Duffy, Bermuda became the smallest country ever to win a gold medal in Tokyo in July.
According to Sharpe, the schools’ championship will change the way Jamaica picks its team for the annual Carifta Triathlon.
“What we plan to do is we will be having a school championship next year to choose our squads for the Carifta. Originally we just based it on those who were interested in the sport and those who brought their children,” he explained. “But we think we have found some momentum that we’re going to go further with.”
That upcoming event is in the planning stages, but it may well include relays.
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