The 2014-2015 Junior Tri V.I. season opened Sunday with the "Just DU It! Duathlon," the first race of a six-race season for kids.
The series is sponsored by the V.I. Triathlon Federation, and Sunday’s event took place at Altoona Lagoon.
The youngest group, made up of fifteen 5- and 6-year old boys and girls, took to the line first for the run/bike/run event, according to information supplied by race organizer Theresa Harper.
Aden Rojas of AZ Academy led the first running leg, followed closely by newcomer Isaac Black. Cai Clays grabbed the lead on the one-lap bike course, and held it through the second running leg to take first. Rojas was second and Connor Bass, of St. Croix Montessori, was third. Maria Wilson was the first female finisher, taking fifth overall. Annabelle Croney was the second girl finisher and first-timer Serena Sheraw was third.
The 7- to 8-year old division was the largest group of the day, according to race organizers. Mason and Kirra Lambert lead the pack on the first run. Once on the bikes, the race turned into a neck-and-neck battle between Mason Lambert and Kaeden Gleason, with Lambert holding on to win by .2 seconds. Newcomer Ethan Baroque took a position right behind the two leaders and ended up in third place. Kirra Lambert held her lead in the female division and finished fourth overall. Sophia Peifer and Meg Claeys finished second and third, respectively.
The final group was the 9- and 11-year-old athletes. The top four boys set a fast pace for the first leg of the race. Mikey Dizon-Bumann, of Good Hope Country Day School, was matched by his classmate, Alex Garcia, but pulled ahead by a few seconds when they switched to the bikes. Masse Hatcher, of St. Mary’s, gave up a few seconds on the bike and was overtaken by Brice Richards.
In the end, the finish order was Dizon-Bumann, Garcia and Richards, in that order. Erin Andrews lead the girls in this division. Charlotte Halk took second place among the girls, and Lydia Wilson placed third.
The next race is a Splash ‘n Dash Nov. 30 at Chenay Bay.