BY CONSOLATA MAKOKHA
SWALEH Balala reclaimed the 2015 H&A Watamu triathlon championship title on Sunday at the Turtle Bay Beach Hotel to extend his reign in the coastal event to four crowns.
Balala ticked 2:13:06hrs to win the Olympic distance (1,500m swim, 40km cycling and 10,000m run). This is an improvement from the last event, where he posted 2:17:17hrs at the 2013 Mombasa International Triathlon Union (ITU) African Cup.
Abdallah Mansur settled for the second place in 2:16:14 while Mohamed Suleiman Said (02:17:27) completed the podium slots. Sprint distance (750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run) wreath went to Ismael Mohamed, who clocked 01:19:41. Gilbert Orio, 01:21:02 was second and David Obura was third in 01:21:31.
In the children’s aquathlon (500m run, 150m swim and 500m run), Kabarak High School’s 14-year-old Ryan Sio claimed the special prize while Spain’s Laura Surkaza grabbed the best award in the girls category.
The race attracted athletes from as far as Italy, United Kingdom, Spain and South Africa. Aida Rajab, the tournament’s organiser was happy with the success of the event and intimated that H&A Sports will host another competition in August at the same venue.
Rajab acknowledged the support from KICC, Turtle Bay, Finis and Getrudes Foundation. He said proceeds from the event will be channeled towards two community based sports education projects at local primary schools in the area.
Courtesy of the-star.co.ke