Things Heating Up in the Youth & Junior Cup

The cold continues in 2025, but things are heating up in the Youth & Junior Cup as two events of the nine-event series have concluded after just once month into the year.

January played host to the first and second Race the Prairies events. The first event returned to the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Edmonton in a new two-day format that included four different types of races - triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon, and mixed relays. The SLS Centre in Cochrane hosted a new event this year that included both triathlon and aquathlon in the beautiful southern town.

With the two events in the books, Lua Perez Hernandez of Edmonton leads the series overall and in Youth 14-15 Female category with an impressive 390 points after participating in both the triathlon and aquathlon at both the Edmonton and Cochrane event. Aubrey Kennedy of St. Albert follows in the Junior 16-19 Female category with 200 points after finishing top of the podium in both Edmonton and Cochrane for her races - however Edmonton's Danica Pardy is in a close second with 190 points, also participating in both events.

As for our newest competitive athletes in the 12-13 Female Category, the leaderboard currently sits at a three-way tie between Sydney LeBlanc, Blake Buchanan, and Maelle Robert.

On the boys' side, Calgary's Avery Steinke leads the board with 185 points after making the trip up to Edmonton as well as competing in Cochrane. St. Albert's Alex Zombar, who also participating in both events, follows close-by though with 180 points; both athletes competing in the Junior 16-19 Male category.

For our younger boys, in the Youth 14-15 Male category we see another three-way tie between Kehlan Duncan, Graydon Watson, and Yousef Sabry and Luke Shopland and Cameron Hendrick in the Age 12-13 Male category; all with 100 points on the board.

The next event in the series will be the third Race the Prairies event returning to the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Edmonton on March 8th & 9th. Registration is still available at racetheprairies.ca.

The Youth & Junior Cup focusses on providing young athletes in Alberta the opportunity to race and develop the skills necessary to compete in draft-legal events throughout the province while continuing to climb the National Performance Pathway. The winner of each age and gender category receives a special champion tri-suit the following year.

For more information on the Youth & Junior Cup as well as to see the complete leaderboard, visit triathlonalberta.ca/jycup.