Youth triathlon scheduled Sunday in PI
Organizers of the Redy, Set, Let’s Go! Youth Triathlon are making final preparations for Aroostook County’s first event held exclusively for the area’s youngest triathletes.
“Everything is coming together nicely,” said Reegan Brown, triathlon coordinator. “The course has been mapped out, we have a great group of volunteers, and the participants have been preparing.”
The triathlon, presented by the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Healthy Aroostook, and The Aroostook Medical Center, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. beginning at UMPI’s Gentile Hall. Event organizers expect between 70 and 75 youth to participate in the event.
“Our goal was to sign up at least 50 youth,” added Brown. “We have almost 70 participants at this point, and we’re still adding kids. We are so pleased with the response.”
The youth triathlon, like the adult version of the sport, will consist of swimming, biking and running. Triathletes between the ages of 7 and 9 will swim 50 yards, bike two miles, and run one-half mile. Participants between the ages of 10 and 13 will swim 100 yards, bike 2.5 miles, and run one mile.
Popular local mascot Redy will be on hand to encourage triathletes to stay active, eat a healthy diet and avoid spending too much time in front of the television. Event organizers named the triathlon after the well-known mascot because he embodies what the triathlon is all about, which is providing kids with an opportunity to get active in a fun, safe and supportive environment.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host the event. Participants will have an opportunity to swim in the Gentile Hall pool and run and bike through much of the scenic campus. University officials are looking forward to welcoming triathletes, their families and volunteers to campus.
“We are so excited to be involved in the area’s first-ever youth triathlon and to join with TAMC and Healthy Aroostook for a day focused on physical activity and healthy lifestyles,” UMPI President Linda Schott said.
According to Brown, helping participants stay safe while navigating the course is organizers’ top priority. In order to ensure that participants have a fun, safe day, over 70 volunteers have been recruited to help on the course, in the transition station, and in the pool.
It is the event’s low cost and commitment to encouraging healthy activity that initially caused The Aroostook Medical Center to become involved.
The triathlon is still a few days away, and organizers are looking forward to welcoming youth from all over Aroostook County.
“We think it’s going to be a lot of fun for the young triathletes and their families,” said Brown. “We encourage the community to come out and support them.”
More information about the triathlon is available at www.redyyouthtriathlon.org.
