We are barely into the new season and already the first continental titles of 2026 have been decided. Alongside this was a medal for an athlete striking out to pastures new, as well the latest instalment of racing at the development level. Find out the key details below in this week’s Monday Morning Mix.
Africa Junior Championships El-Galala
Claiming the first male continental crown of 2026, Nathan Max Centlivres Chase (NAM) took down a cluster of South African rivals, among which included the reigning African Junior champion, to power to the gold medal. Chase’s triumph was built on the bike. A split of 30:13 for the 20km was by far the fastest on a day when no one else rode under 31 minutes. Arriving in T2 alone, he then saw the job through to win by a round 30 seconds.
The defending champion Antony Clayton (RSA) was the best of the rest as he took the silver medal ahead of compatriot Oliver Delport (RSA).
In the women’s race, Maja Jeanne Brinkmann (NAM) continued the joy for Namibia with a win of her own. Like Chase, Brinkmann won a bronze medal at the 2025 iteration of these championships. And like Chase, her win in El-Galala was constructed on the bike via a serious display of cycling power.
Brinkmann had led out of the water by 1 second (clocking 9:34 over the wetsuit-legal 750m). She then ripped a bike split of 34:54 to arrive in T2 with a handy half minute lead. Silver medallist Taylor Foster (RSA) closed the gap on the run slightly, but Brinkmann had done enough. There was also a home bronze medal for Joudy Fathy (EGY). View the full results here.
Africa Cup El-Galala
Meanwhile, plenty of senior athletes launched their campaigns at the first Africa Cup of 2026. Justus Töpper (GER) denied 2023 World U23 Championship medallist Baptiste Passemard (FRA) in the sprint distance event. Blake Bullard (USA) had led out of the water (8:04), but it was Francesco Strada (ITA) that jumped clear having been the second man into T1. Strada’s tilt for the podium eventually faded, leaving a quartet to battle out the medals at the sharp end of the run.
As Töpper got the better of Passemard by 4 seconds, Ben Dijkstra (TRI), racing for the first time in independent colours as part of his transition from representing Great Britain to the Netherlands, placed 3rd ahead of Bullard.
A similar close finish was in store in the women’s race. Italy’s Paola Sacchi shared the lead exiting the water (9:21) however the majority of what was a small field nipped at her heels. A lead group of seven then pulled clear on the bike.
Onto the run, Sacchi faced a fight for gold against Asia Mercatelli (ITA) and Clara Carlquist (DEN). In the end, it was Mercatelli that had the better finish, winning by 7 seconds. Sacchi could nonetheless be satisfied with the silver medal, as she beat Carlquist out by a mere 3 seconds. View the full results here.
World Triathlon Development Regional Cup Bridgetown
After the opening stop in Formosa, the Development Regional Cup returned in Bridgetown, Barbados. Marcos Alejandro Fernández González (CUB) was the star of the show in the men’s race, winning by a comfortable 53 seconds.
The field had languished behind Jose Raul Cabinal Gramajo (GUA) who led the sprint distance 750m swim in a time of 9:34. Fernández was next out some 22 seconds back. Cabinal, however, could not make his advantage stick. When the run came around, Fernández was thus perfectly positioned to strike. Cabinal went on to grab the silver medal while bronze went to Luke McIntyre (BAR).
Zoe Adam (PUR) made a happy return to the Development Regional Cup circuit; having ended 2025 with a win at the stop in Durazno, she opened her 2026 account with a victory in Bridgetown. This was a one-woman show from Adam. She led from the off, zooming to a 12:43 swim split (the best by 30 seconds), before gaining another minute on the field during the bike. A chart-topping run split then sealed a comprehensive victory for the Puerto Rican athlete.
Bivian Andrea Luisita Diaz Fuentes (GUA) then held off Adam’s teammate Isabella Fernandez (PUR) in the race for silver. View the full results here.