Coach looks to the future after first CARIFTA triathlon

Following a fourth-place finish at the first-ever CARIFTA triathlon/aquathlon/mixed relays age group championship, national team coach Elisabeth Mondon has described the performance as "fantastic".

Guadeloupe topped the championship with 72 points, ahead of hosts Barbados (64), Trinidad and Tobago (36), Jamaica (19) and Martinique (15), the top five teams at the two-day event that ended last Sunday in Barbados.

"It was fantastic for us. The first time in the Caribbean championship and we came fourth of 19 countries. We came behind Guadeloupe, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago," Mondon told The Gleaner on arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on Monday afternoon.

"It was a very successful event for us. We got four individual medals - one gold and two silver and a fourth place finish. Llori Sharpe got a gold and silver, Israel Allen got a silver and Jonathan Lyn earned a fifth-place finish. The manager is proud, coaches are proud and athletes are proud," the former French triathlete said.

"This is a good way for us to try to develop going forward. We want to introduce triathlon in the school system, and that would be a good step for us next year," Mondon added.

Team manager Donna-Kaye Sharpe said for a small team it was a great achievement as it was the first time they had participated in a team championship.

"We are not disappointed with the fourth-place finish. What was impressive is that an 11-member team could wrap up 19 points. It was a very impressive performance for a small and inexperienced team," Sharpe, who is also Llori's manager reasoned.

"The future is looking good as I think our performance will attract more athletes and sponsors for the programme. The children were very disciplined during the championship but in terms of coordinating, it was intense. We had to get up like 3:30 a.m. to get picked up and start a race at 6 a.m.," she explained.