Young athletes from St. Croix gathered Sunday morning to compete in the second Splash N’Dash race in the Kids Tri VI series for youth ages 5 to 15.

The beach at Chenay Bay was filled with 23 racers whose parents cheered them on as they swam and ran around the resort. The competitors sprinted into the ocean and swam until they reached the pier, then ran barefooted to the transition station where they put on socks and shoes to finish the second part of the race, running a lap on the paved road until they reached the caution tape finish line.

Some of the kids were in such a hurry to start running they forgot to tie their shoes until their parents yelled to them from a distance to do so.

The Virgin Island Triathlon Federation members that conduct the series for kids are looking for up and coming youth that one day could represent the USVI in the Olympics.

“We are looking for young talent to start training early because if you’re good you can go to the Olympics," representing the territory, said Roger Hatfield of the VITF. “St. Croix is perfect for triathletes because we are a remote community and the weather is ideal for year-round training.”

One of the best up and coming athletes is Adriel Sanes, 12, who has competed in every Kids Tri VI race and has won all five so far. He took home another first place finish in the 12-15 year-old age group, swimming 200 meters and running one-mile in the time of 11:48. Annie Hardee finished second with a time of 20:37.

“The water was refreshing,” said Sanes after the race.He finished the race in a blur as people didn’t have enough time to get their cameras ready to capture his finish.

Another young and rising competitor is Shawna Dean who won her second consecutive race after also winning the kids triathlon last month. She took the first place prize for the 9-11 year-old age group after completing her 100 meter swim and half-mile run in the time of 6:25.Alec Kuipers finished second with a time of 7:03 and Erik Ruparelia was third at 7:48.With 10 entrants, this was also the age group with the most participants.

Dean’s friend, 8-year-old Natalia Kuipers, won first place in the 7-8 age group. Kuiperswon her second straight race after winning the triathlon as well last month. She swam 50 meters and ran a quarter mile in 4:20, while Lucy Klempen took second in 4:51 and Cooper Crowther was third with a time of 5:08.

The smallest competitors of the day were the 5-6 year-olds, who had to swim 25 meters and run a quarter-mile. Brice Richards, 6, won his first race with a time of 4:39.He mentioned afterward that running more than swimming was his favorite part of the event. Charlotte Halk finished second, 4:49 and JJ Klempen came in third, posting a time of 5:08.

The top three athletes in each age group won dog tags that were labeled 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The first place finishers received gift certificates to iTunes.

The event was filled with family, as three pairs of brothers and sisters raced, including the Ruparelia triplets, Erik, Amanda and Henrik, who ran together in the 9-11 year-old group. The most successful family of the day belonged to the Kuipers, as Natalia won first place in the 7-8 group and older brother Alec took second in the 9-11 age group. The Klempen brother and sister duo did well also, as the youngest, JJ, finished third in the 5-6 year-olds and Lucy took second in the 7-8 group.

“I try to keep the kids busy with sports and it keeps them out of trouble,” said Noel Sanes, whose sons Adriel and Gabriel competed in the race. He has them playing as many sports as possible, inclduing basketball, track, swimming and sometimes even Tae Kwon Do.

This Splash N’Dash race had a smaller turnout than the one last September, according to VITF member Theresa Harper, and they are looking for more athletes for the final race of the season. The last race of the kid’s series will be a triathlon to be held May 15 at Cramer’s Park. The VITF will also hold a clinic for kids in the near future.

More information is available online at http://www.vitf.org/.