The year is ending but there were nonetheless beginnings of sorts at the weekend. In South America, Team USA unearthed a new talent that could be one to watch going forward. Meanwhile, in Africa the continent’s stars of tomorrow gained invaluable experience. Find out what happened in this week’s Monday Morning Mix.
Americas Cup Manta
Liam Donnelly (CAN) had too much for his rivals on the run as he took a late-season victory over the sprint distance in Ecuador. Much of the race was characterised by a large pack jockeying for position. The key moves therefore came on the run as a select group of leaders formed. Here, Donnelly led the way against a Mexican trio of Rodrigo Gonzalez, Erik Yamir Ramos Croda and Uzziel Valderrabano Chavez. The Canadian had the best finish though – ending the day with a 14:42 5km split – to ensure he came away with a first international win of 2025. Ramos was the best of the rest, crossing 13 seconds later while Rodriguez rounded out the podium.
In the women’s race, a breakaway set the terms for the race as the four fastest swimmers peeled clear. Ana Maria Valentina Torres Gomez (MEX) had led from Cecilia Perez (MEX), clocking 10:27 for the 750m. The Japanese duo of Sarika Nakayama and Mako Hirazumi likewise made the group. It took a strong effort from Faith Duncan (USA) to latch onto the lead pack, lifting its number to five, but she made it stick. From there, the front-runners set about carving out a lead of over 40 seconds.
Out of T2, the leaders may have found themselves wishing Duncan had not made the pack. She was the best runner of the day (17:25) and cruised to victory, her first in international triathlon in only her third ever start. While qualification for LA 2028 will open in roughly six months, it will not close for well over two years. Duncan’s promising showing therefore could be the first step in becoming a bolter to take a slot for a home Games. Torres followed home some 33 seconds later to take silver while Hiraizumi denied Perez the bronze. View the full results here.
World Triathlon Development Regional Cup Kilifi
Remy Gerard (MRI) prevailed in the sprint distance event in Kenya with a commanding performance. He was part of a three-man front group that escaped in the swim, Namibia’s Nathan Max Centlivres Chase and Tunisia’s Youssef Slama completing the trio. Out of T1, the leaders had the best part of 45 seconds to play with but they grew that massively over the course of the 20km bike.
On the run, Gerard, the national champion of Mauritius, then sealed the deal with a quality 14:52 5km split. Chase would hold on for second. Born in 2008, this has been a year in which the Africa Junior Championships bronze medallist has accrued significant international experience and he will look to graduate into the World Junior Championships and beyond next year. Slama, an athlete even younger, took bronze. This was his second international start after previously winning the Saly Development Regional Cup.
Another young Namibian talent dazzled in the women’s race. Maja Jeanne Brinkmann (NAM) won by 3 minutes 1 second, building on her win at the recent Development Regional Cup in Maputo and her Africa Junior Championships bronze medal. Brinkmann was the first out of the water, 40 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, and never looked like being caught. Indeed, amid her solo effort she also clocked the best bike and run splits of the race. Megan Irungu (KEN) brought home a medal for the home team in 2nd place. Tunisia’s Elissa Ghanoudi then took 3rd place. View the full results here.
