Chile Harvest Triathlon heading into third year

Socorro Riders and Striders and the city of Socorro will sponsor the third annual Socorro Chile Harvest Youth Triathlon on Friday, Aug. 3, on the New Mexico Tech campus.

The USA Triathlon-sanctioned event is designed to allow area youth ages 7-16 participate in a safe, short-distance triathlon, which is comprised of swimming, biking and running.

Last year’s event had 52 youth participants from around the state, a 20 percent increase from 2010, and 27 of those were members of the Socorro Stingrays swim club.

The registration fee is $20 before midnight on July 31 or $25 after that date. One of the goals of the Chile Harvest Youth Triathlon is to make the event affordable for Socorro and Sierra County children. Thus, the entry will only be $5 for participants residing in either of those counties, along with a $10 USAT insurance fee for non-members. That price is in place until July 31, and website registration closes before noon on Aug. 2, but race-day registration will be available from 2 to 5 p.m.

The race begins at 6 p.m. at the NMT pool and will continue on the surrounding road and field.

The timed event will offer participants in different age groups different lengths in the combined events.

For example, kids ages 7-8 will swim 50 meters, bike approximately two kilometers and run one kilometer. Children who are 9 or 10 years old will swim 100 meters, bike four kilometers and run one kilometer. Length distances continue to increase with age.

Each child participating in the triathlon will receive a shirt, a towel, and a water bottle along with free snacks and water, and every child who finishes will be awarded a medal.

Medals will also be given for first, second and third place finishes in each age group.

NMT police and at least 30 volunteers will be on site to ensure the children’s safety, and the race director will inspect every participant’s bike as well as their bike helmet, which is mandatory equipment.

There will also be a short clinic prior to the onset of the race to inform children and parents about safety rules and requirements, as well as protocol for sport-to-sport transition. Anyone interested in registering for the event can do so at www.active.com and enter the code FASTKIDS.

For more information on the Socorro Chile Harvest Youth Triathlon, please visit www.chileharvesttri.com. Any families in need of scholarship assistance with fees, please contact Lynette Napier at 505-363-3361.