This year’s ATB Financial Lloydminster Triathlon for kids will include an older age group qualifier for the Saskatchewan Summer Games and a finish line photo zone for teams. Pictured are kids from the 2023 event dashing from the Bioclean Aquatic Centre to the bike transition at Bud Miller All Seasons Park. Source File Photo
This year’s ATB Financial Lloydminster triathlon will be a photo finish for teams.
That’s a prediction from race director Anthony Bender for the upcoming ninth edition of the event at Bud Miller All Seasons Park on June 14.
“We have another addition this year where there’s going to be a photo op at the finish line for the teams,” explained Bender.
“We’ll have hopefully a little gallery there for them to set up. They’re always looking to take pictures at the finish line but we haven’t had anything set up there.”
This year, Bender says it will just be a backdrop “kind of like a triathlon vibe.”
The perennial swim, bike, and run drill for young athletes will max out with 804 athletes, just over the cap of 800 kids from the Lloydminster and Catholic school divisions.
“It’s full,” declared Bender who is also the vice-principal of Ecole St. Thomas School.
“It’s a great event for kids.”
This year’s individual and team competition for kids will include a sanctioned qualifier for the upcoming Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster.
The top three individual male and female finishers in the 12-15 age group qualify to represent the zone triathlon team at the July 21-27 Games over the same course.
The qualifier will be held at the end of the ATB triathlon with a 400-metre swim, 8 km bike and 2 km run.
About 15 athletes are registered for the qualifier.
Bender says the qualifier for individuals fits the ATB theory of getting kids interested in sports with teams until they gain the confidence to do it on their own.
“That’s the whole point,” he said.
Bender says whether some athletes go on to bigger and better competition is entirely up to them, but it’s not the purpose of the ATB triathlon.
“Our goal is to keep kids active,” said Bender who revealed the secret sauce behind the success of the event.
“We got over 70 volunteers and sponsorship is great because the town is super supportive of this.”
“We have a great committee of people. It’s because of that that it runs so smooth.”
Bender also gives kudos for the title sponsorship from ATB Financial.
“They’re community-minded. They get a good value for their buck too. They know what it’s all about,” he said.
“So, we are thankful that we have sponsors like that that are interested in helping out the community.
“You can see what happens when a community works together to put on an event like this. It’s great for kids.”
Bender says not to be overlooked is the fact ATB also sends people from the Lloyd branch to help out at the event.
“Maybe that’s not noted in the past, so it’s not only sponsorship; they support it with manpower too. We’re pretty thankful for that.”
