The Tribune

Four new champions were crowned as a record field of 215 competitors took part in the fourth annual Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon at Jaws Beach on Saturday.

Due to the growth of the event and by popular demand, an Olympic distance race was added to the traditional Sprint, adding to the range of competition.

Nineteen Olympic distance athletes went into the water first for a 1,500m sea swim, 42km bike and a 10km run on the Clifton Heritage Park trails.

The men’s race was closely fought with the lead changing hands several times. In the final kilometre of the run, Simone Bertoldo pulled away for victory in 2hr 35min 31sec, closely followed by last year’s Sprint event winner, Simon Lowe, and Mark Holowesko in third.

Former sprint champion Anna Zywiolek dominated the women’s event from start to finish and convincingly took the title in 2hr 43min 21sec. The two champions won the chance to compete in The Island House Invitational Triathlon‘s Fittest CEO Challenge on October 29, when they will represent the Bahamas against some of the top triathletes in the world.

The Sprint racers covered half the Olympic distances with two new winners emerging. Cameron Roach took the men’s title in 1hr 10min 51sec, taking the lead from the start and finishing ahead of the strong runners Jorge Marcos and Mark Dietrich.

Reigning Conchman titleholder Elizabeth Shaddock took victory in the women’s race in 1hr 25min 54sec, running down Katrina Montgomery on the final leg with Deborah Reid third.

Freeport-based team “Executive Marine” reclaimed their title in the relay event which they had won in 2014.

The trio of Josh Rigby, David Mellor and Delroy Booth beat a field of 26 teams to win in a combined time of 1hr 4min 16sec, almost four minutes ahead of “Rusty Nuts”, comprising Mark Richford, Ben West and Oneil Williams.

“Team Tri Harder” (Karen Alliata, Christine Gange and Kathryn Donohue) won the women’s relay in 1hr 22min 6sec while the mixed event was won by “Beast Mode On”, their trio of Andrew Smith, Rowshan Jones and Suzy Eneas finishing in 1hr 9m 56sec.

Among the other individual Sprint event category winners were the Bahamas Olympic rower Emily Morley and her boyfriend, Drew Erskine, who won the 20 to 29 age groups repsectively.

The men’s category winners were Benjamin Derbyshire (under-19), Sean Andrews (30 to 39), Daniel Weightman (40 to 49), Mark Davies (50 to 59) and Greg Lowe (over 60). The other women’s titles went to Melody Charleville (30 to 39), Viviane Proffitt (40 to 49) and Kathryn Johnston (50 to 59).

The Puppy Tri event winners for children aged 6 to 14 were Victor Laslop, Quinn Hewison and Oliver Townend in the boys and Erin Prtichard, Alyssa Roy and Charlotte Fernie in the girls.

“The day couldn’t have gone better,” delighted race director Sarah Kennedy said. “The addition of the Olympic distance was a success, we saw exciting races and rivalries, we crowned four new champions and saw more then 20 people complete their first ever triathlon. The Potcakeman is proud to be a part of the very special triathlon community here in the Bahamas. Everyone is encouraging of one another and our common goal is to grow the popularity of the sport.

“We wish Simone and Anna the best of luck in The Island House Tri and hope everyone will come out to support them.”

Ms Kennedy added that the Puppy Tri is important “for us to include the whole family in our event and promote the sport for up and coming athletes.” added Ms Kennedy.

On behalf of presenting sponsors Powerade, Cara Douglas, marketing manager of Caribbean Bottling Company, said her firm is committed to supporting local athletics “and the Potcakeman Triathlon is great avenue for us to fulfil this. For the past three years we have seen this event grow to the largest tri event in the Bahamas, and seen their good work continue to grow as a result.”

In addition to Powerade, the event was sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, Albany, Subway, Think Simple, PappaSurf, Higgs & Johnson, The Pet Food Institute, Damianos Sothebys International Realty, Heinenken, Club One Fitness Centre and Golden Wings Charter.

Swim course support was taken care of by BASRA, Pappa Surf and Wolf’s Kayaking Club. The Rotary Club of East Nassau’s burger van provided post-event food.

Race director Lori Roach said that thanks to the sponsors’ generosity, 100 per cent of athletes entry fees will go towards Baark (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness), bringing the total raised from the event to $30,000.

“This is an incredible amount and we are very proud of how the event has grown over the last four years,” she said. “It’s a wonderful feeling when everyone’s hard work pays off, our volunteers also deserve a special mention who went above and beyond and were essential to the event’s success.”