Riverview kids take on school’s annual bi- and triathlon
All of Riverview Prep's pupils competed in the school's annual bi- and triathlon last Friday and swam, ran and (if they had a bicycle) cycled on routes in the sugar cane fields surrounding the school.
Riverview Prep’s learners faced a trail run, swim and cycling during the school’s annual bi- and triathlon last Friday, March 15.
The compulsory event aims to encourage children’s love of sport and foster a sense of school and team spirit.
A two-kilometre and three-kilometre running route and five-kilometre cycling course wound through sugar cane fields surrounding Riverview and the competitors also had to complete several lengths in the school pool.
The juniors had to complete a two-kilometre run, 250-metre swim and the five-kilometre cycling course. Children who struggled to swim could use a kicker board.
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The seniors’ course was a little longer with a three-kilometre run and 500-metre swim, in addition to the five-kilometre cycling leg.
Learners who did not have a bike could compete in a biathlon instead.
Most of the cyclists crossed the finish line spattered in mud, as manoeuvring through mud and an uphill were the course’s biggest challenges.
Liam Möhle crossed the finish line first among the juniors with a time of 52:54. He was followed by Milan van der Nest (54:40) and Tendani Mudau (1:15:28).
The winning junior girl was Bella James with a time of 1:42:10. Reamohetse Mahlatsi was second with 2:02:10 and Nina Damm third with 2:24:51.
Graeme Spear was the overall winner for the seniors with a time of 55:17, Nic Horn was second with a time of 1:06:35 and James Ralfe, third with 1:07:43.
Among the senior girls, Evie Ralfe and Megan de Swart tied with a time of 1:03:35, with Jamie Maritz in second with 1:05:08 and in third place was Bella Vieira with 1:07:12.
The learners could also show their support for CANSA and the fight against cancer by having their hair sprayed with various colours.
CANSA had an awareness stall at the school event as part of the annual CANSA Shavathon, which was held across the country between March 2 and 8. The fund-raising and awareness event sees members of the public shave or spray their hair in colours of the rainbow to show their support for cancer survivors.
The school’s swimmers were still in shape for the event, as they competed in the school’s last mixed relay gala of the season on Tuesday, March 12. Riverview hosted St Peter’s School and Flamboyant and the event aimed to give the swimmers experience in competition conditions and was a great team-building exercise.
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Serious swimmers will be training hard over the next few months as individual galas are set to resume in the fourth term.
