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CNMI triathletes take to the water today
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Posted on Aug 02 2005
The countless hours that Natasha Good, Jack Kabiriel, Dirk Sharer, Melissa Coleman, Stephan Samoyloff, and Anneka Sakovich have spent in the water, on their bikes, and on the road are about to payoff this morning as they take to the shores and streets of Palau in the 2005 South Pacific Mini-Games this morning, but the half-dozen triathletes will be without a third of their equipment.
Citing road conditions termed as terrible by Northern Marianas Islands Triathlon Federation president Stephan Samoyloff, race officials made the decision to scrap the two-wheeled portion of the event in accordance to International Triathlon Union.
Rather than send multisport competitors through the rigors of a 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike, and 10-km run, the Mini-SPG committee will offer an aquathon consisting of a 5km run followed by a 2km swim, and another 5km run.
While the new version of the race is not exactly what the local team has prepared for, Samoyloff said that he understands the decision and guarantees one medal.
“The roads really are that bad, and of course, you can go slow, but then why call it a race? Strategically it suits us just fine, especially Melissa [Coleman] and [Jack Kabriel], and I might as well just hang up my sneakers now and play coach for the day,” said Samoyloff.
