SOUTH African triathlon sensation, Kate Roberts, has confirmed her participation in the grueling TriRock Durban triathlon on Sunday 5 October.
Roberts will compete in both the individual UrbanRock sprint distance on Saturday and the long distance team event on Sunday. She returns to South Africa after a successful stint abroad where she won a Commonwealth silver medal, following the South African team’s success in the mixed relay event. “It was very special beating the likes of Australia and New Zealand, who are larger federations compared to us. It was a highlight of my career and I will cherish it for the rest of my life. Standing on the podium was so special.”
Race director, Grant Kunneke, said that Kate’s participation was a boost for the event, “Our race objective is to provide a participation platform for all levels of ability and skill, and having an international Games medal winner in our field covers the entire spectrum of participants – from beginners to superstars. We are thrilled to have a double Olympian in the field.”
This big news comes on the back of confirmation that Medihelp is the new presenting sponsor for this year’s TriRock Durban.
More than a thousand athletes have been preparing for months to compete in the triathlon, which consists of a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle event and a 21km run. “All three disciplines require extensive skills and endurance training, but crossing the finish line on the day is sufficient reward for all the hard work they’ve put in. The sense of accomplishment they’ll get from finishing the race – whether in record time or not – is without equal,” said Grant.
The Durban TriRock includes a children’s event, a sprint triathlon and the long distance event. A women’s only event, the ChxColourRock, is on Friday 3 October, and the 9km fun run with coloured powder promises to create a spectacular rainbow display of athletes.
Entries for the event are still open and more information is available at www.trirock-durban.com. The event caters for relay teams, so athletes wishing to complete only an individual leg of the triathlon can do so as part of a team of three. Phone Grant Kunneke on 082 564 5345 or email him at grant@tri-rock.com.
