Written by Jeff Gable, Rome News-Tribune staff writer, published 5/4/2009
Hundreds of fans and volunteers cheered on participants at Darlington School on Sunday during an event that was part swim meet, part bicycle race and part track meet.
The inaugural
Tri for the Kids triathlon included more than 150 youth participants. Beth Smith, the event organizer, said the kids were divided into three groups — a 7-to-9-year-old division, a 10-to-12-year-old division and a physically challenged division.
“We have 154 kids who signed up, including seven physically challenged athletes,” Smith said. “And we had tons of volunteers come out, which has been great. We had a lot of participants from the Rome area, but we also got some from as far away as Dalton and Atlanta. I’d say, for 95 percent of them, this is the first time they’ve done anything like this. And they didn’t have an idea of what to expect, but they all did awesome.”
The 7-to-9 age group had a two-lap swim, a two-and-a-half mile bike ride and a half-mile run. The 10-to-12 age group doubled those distances, with a four-lap swim, a five-mile bike ride and a one-mile run.
Nine-year-old Logan Kozlowski said it was an exhilarating feeling to finish her first triathlon. “I liked it because it was challenging, and it was great exercise,” she said. “I expected it to be really hard, but as I went through, I felt really good. On the bike ride, I started getting tired and I wanted to give up, but I didn’t. My legs felt a little weak while I was running, but it felt great to keep going and to reach the finish line.”
Smith said the triathlon raised approximately $10,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Rome. She also said the response from the participants and their parents was very positive. “The kids were so excited to finish, and some of them said they’re ready to do another one.”
