Kids find firsts, fun at junior triathlon

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By Nate Taylor | Saturday, June 7, 2008 6:46 PM CDT | () comments

Kelli DeGeorge, 10, of Bettendorf, hops off her bicycle Saturday to begin the running portion of the first Hy-Vee/ Hormel Kids Triathlon at the North Davenport YMCA. (Elisa Petersen/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

It all started with a bunch of kids in a room.

Every junior triathlon athlete wore a three-digit number on his or her right arm and left calf. Each one was ready to participate in a journey.

They talked to each other about what it was going to be like. There was No. 180, a tall, red-haired boy in blue swimming trunks, talking to No. 126, who was short girl wearing a green swimming suit. Their conversation was about what they thought their first ever triathlon might be like.

That was the atmosphere during the Hormel/Hy-Vee Kids Triathlon Saturday morning at the North Family YMCA in Davenport. During the event, more than 175 kids participated in the three-stage sport of swimming, cycling and running. For race director Timothy J. McKinnon, having the kids take part in the first junior triathlon at the YMCA was a mission accomplished.

“I don’t know that the event could have gone better,” McKinnon said. “The kids had a great time, and this was what we hoped for.”

The triathlon was the last part of a five-city tour this summer. Those cities included Omaha, Neb., Kansas City, Sioux City, Iowa, and Rochester, Minn. Between the five, Davenport was able to get the most kids to participate in its race.

The first to cross the finish line was 14-year-old Brett Guerra of Grandview, Iowa. She ran a triathlon before, but this time was a little different.

“It felt pretty good because I’m always competing with adults,” Guerra said.

Zach Mohr won the boys 12-, 13- and 14-year-old age group in 22:35.

Guerra’s father, Ernie, said the sport has given her a lot of fun.

“I’m really happy for her,” he said. “This sport has given her new friends along the way.”

Although this was Brett’s second triathlon, many were trying the sport for the first time. McKinnon said he thinks the thing the kids will remember most is when they finished.

“I think the finish line.” McKinnon said. “It’s a huge accomplishment for these kids. You know they’re tired, and when they cross the finish line and get a medal around their neck, it’s a moment they won’t forget.”

One kid who felt that feeling at the finish line was 7-year-old Kiya Ritchie of Davenport. Although she was one of the last participants to finish Saturday, crossing the line was a goal she set in early April.

With her mother, Heather, her father, Adrian, and her older brother, Bryce, on hand, Ritchie became the first of the family to complete a triathlon.

“Our family is pretty athletic,” Heather said. “But nobody has every done a triathlon, so she wanted to try it.”

After Ritchie crossed the finish line and received her medal, the exasperated athlete spoke few words.

“I’m tired,” she said. “But I had fun.”

In a day of firsts for most, her father was just pleased to see his daughter and others do something he cannot.

“I was amazed to see her compete,” Adrian said. “I can’t even swim, so she and all the other kids impressed me today.”

Nate Taylor can be contacted at (563) 383-2477 or ntaylor@qctimes.com