S.C.A. raises funds with triathlon

Judging from the growing participation in and public support of the annual Lionman Triathlon, it looks like the gruelling sport–which combines swimming, biking, and running–is destined for great popularity in Belize … and not just for men. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
At dawn on Saturday morning, forty-eight young women will divide themselves into sixteen teams with one participant swimming five laps in the Pickwick Pool, another will ride three point nine six miles before handing over to a third woman who will run two point eight miles as part of the first annual St. Catherine?s Academy Relay Triathlon.

According to organizers, the event, scheduled to take place on Princess Margaret Drive and Marine Parade, is a fun way to promote healthy bodies and instil school pride.

Maria Coyi, Organizer, S.C.A .Triathlon
?We asked each class to bring in sponsors. They went out with their sponsor forms and they did get sponsors. We have two different categories of sponsors. We have the corporate and the individual sponsors. Each class was asked to bring in a sum of money and if they meet their mark, then we will raise a significant amount of money that will be the ground that will help us to put down a foundation for the building. We want to build a multi-purpose building that would house a gym and an auditorium to hold our functions and so we are looking forward to having a positive day on Saturday.?

And the girls are taking the competition seriously.

Kaya Cattouse, Participant
?Some of them are training together, others like me are training on our own, but yes.?

Janelle Chanona
?What was the response like when they told your class this would be the way to raise the money??

Kaya Cattouse
?I guess the more athletic people liked it. But the others were like … we don?t want a triathlon.?

Janelle Chanona
?So they are going to be the support crew??

Kaya Cattouse
?I hope so.?

Janelle Chanona
?What are you doing to get ready??

Marjana Eck, Participant
?We have a park around Ladyville and I would ride around there. My mom and me, I would get up at four and I would ride and she would follow me.?

Janelle Chanona
?So how you feeling inside knowing that you are doing this to help the school?

Marjana Eck
?I feel proud kind-ov-ah, but I feel shy. I afraid I drop. I?m so afraid of that.?

But the school is making safety a priority.

Jose Sanchez, Organizer
?It?s going to be very safe. BERT is going to be out there in the middle of the entire area, we?ll have walkie-talkies and people will be giving water. They?ll be checking the girls in each leg of the race. We don?t really expect any problems, but safety is always an issue.?

Janelle Chanona
?And you are keeping your fingers crossed on the weather??

Jose Sanchez
?We are definitely keeping our fingers crossed on the weather, but the girls say they want to be out there whether it rains or shines or water. They want to do this.?

Kayla Arnold, Student Body President, S.C.A.
?The triathlon begins at six on Saturday morning and we ask everybody to come and support. It?s definitely a worthy cause, for the building of our gymnasium and we just ask, it?s a family event, from six to twelve on Saturday and everybody, we?ll like you to come out and give support.?

Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.