Shaler Area Elementary School students and families participated in the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon last May in record numbers, over 100 participants! Motivation to train remained high even after the Kids of Steel program concluded. Some runners accepted 4th-grade teacher, Kelly Himes’ challenge to push past running and train like a triathlete.
Head coach Kelly Himes, currently a Burchfield 4th grade ELA teacher, had approximately 40 kids join her summer Triathlon Club. Her assistant coaches Mike Barber and Kevin Luksik joined Coach Kelly for all 4 training sessions. Joella Baker and her Get Fit Families staff provided professional knowledge, coaching and equipment for the Bike-Run training. With Coach Joella’s bike racks set up the athletes get to practice authentic triathlon bike-to-run transitions, a tricky routine to learn for new triathletes.
Coach Kelly and her crew host two Bike-Run practices and two swim transition practices. According to Coach Kelly, “Every practice was a huge success! The athletes learned, had fun and improved at each session.”
It was devastating when the Habitat for Humanity Kids Triathlon at North Park was cancelled due to smoke exposure from the Canadian wildfires. Around 30 kids registered for the race.
That didn’t stop our triathletes, though! Many continued to practice and train on their own. A nice group participated in two other triathlons later in the summer.
The Mighty Moraine Man Youth triathlon took place on August 15th and the first annual Kids Tri North Boroughs at Avalon Community Park took place this past Saturday, where a group of our triathletes placed high in their age groups. Andrew Whitco won the event!
“I couldn’t be prouder of Andrew. He’s a natural athlete who could really shine in this sport,” said Coach Kelly. Easton Tavis and Miram Brown competed as well. At the Mighty Moraine Man State Championship, Vincent Riddle placed third in his division. Some other triathletes included Milani Akar, Hugo Akar, Maura Rizzo, Bridget Shelley, Vincent Riddle, and Miriam Brown.
By Mike Barber
