The Academy Games
The Academy Games is an annual gathering of the State’s Regional Academies of Sport (RASi) to celebrate the skill and development of their talented athletes, and this year hosted over 80 Academy competitors from 5 regional academies, plus the newly formed Rest of State Talent Academy (ROSTA). The two-day triathlon program was hosted at Cams Wharf, Lake Macquarie by the Hunter Academy of Sport, with the help of the Central Coast Triathlon Club.
Day 1 featured the individual draft legal heats and finals over a 200m swim/5.6km bike/1.5km run format. After a strong performance in the heats, Sophie Martin (ROSTA, Orange Tri Club) took out the Junior women’s A final with a blistering 6 minute run. Kailin Pople (ROSTA, Cronulla Tri Club) and Ella-Kate Hussein (WSAS, Hills Tri Club) rounded out the podium.
WELL DONE Sophie!
“It was a fantastic way to finish the Youth competition season,” says TNSW Development Pathway Manager Mick Delamotte. “I was pleased with the quality of the racing and grit in tough conditions on Saturday. Our kids have had a lot of short course racing this year, and I could see the obvious development in race skills and growth in athlete management across the season, which is most encouraging.
Importantly, it brought the kids all together, many staying in camp environments, and they are memories that stick.