Swimmers and runners enjoy new event
Participants in the inaugural Aquathlon
(CNS Local Life): The inaugural Aquathlon Sea Swim and Run took place at Governor’s Beach on Saturday, 17 March, with 24 individuals and 27 two-person teams competing in the 800m sea swim, followed by a 3,000m run. The race, jointly organised by Cayman Islands Aquatic Sports Association (CIASA) and 345 Athletics Club, was designed to add a second dimension for Cayman’s athletes and build camaraderie between the two sports.
CIASA race director for open water swimming, Duke Sullivan, said of the event: “It was nice to see our CARIFTA athletes from swimming and track team up for an enjoyable event. To be able to partner with 345 Athletics Club and create this race in which our elite athletes, kids and parents alike were able to take part in, made it a special day.”
The race started at 3:45pm with swimmers making an in-water start, heading north towards West Bay for 400m, then going around the turn buoy and back to Governor’s Beach for the handover to their running teammate, or to don running shoes for those going solo.
Out of the water joint first, in just over 10 minutes, were seasoned sea swimmers John Bodden with “Team Bird Gang” and Liam Henry with “Team Young Distance”, who then handed their timing chips over to runners Will Edwards and Joshua Steen, respectively.
The racers then headed north again, on West Bay Road, turning at Public Beach car park, and down the Esterley Tibbetts bypass before making the final turn back to Governor’s Beach and the finish line.
Edwards, and Team Bird Gang, took first place, finishing his 3,000m run in 10:45.7 for an overall team time of 21:17.8. The quickest run of the day and the only person to break 10 minutes for the 3,000m was Victor Magalhaes in a time of 9:58.0, which moved his team “Los Dos” from seventh place after the swim to second overall, with a combined time of 21:39.0.
The first all-female team across the line was “Slow Down for What” with swimmer Kyra Rabess handing over to one of Cayman’s top female distance runners, Ava Hider, who ran the quickest women’s 3,000m of the day. The fastest solo competitor out of the water was Jasmine Lambert-Wrag, in 12:14, who went on to win the female individual category.
Bailey Weathers, CIASA technical director and coach, said, “It was an exciting event and something different for our athletes. I am sure this will become an annual event and hope to see age groups and mixed teams added next year. The weather was perfect with flat calm seas and there wasn’t much traffic on the road for our runners.”
