Provided

Pictured from left are Louis Yuhasz, Bucky Buchanan, Domonique Minor, Miracle Washington, David Cross and Micah Lancaster.

Young athletes, both boys and girls, ages 7-14, competed in three events of swimming, biking and running.

Will Rishovd, Daniel Island coordinator for the City of Charleston Recreation Department, said that there was a wide range of kids.

Instead of giving out T-shirts this year, the Recreation Department opted to give out towels.

“People came from as far aways as Florida,” Rishovd said.

“It certainly feels successful when we have people come from other places that are not in our immediate area to come and participate,” he said.

The first year the Triathlon had only 40 kids participate.

It was a first for Louie’s Kids to be involved. The nonprofit organization dedicated to combatting childhood obesity, had three of their kids participate: Miracle Washington, Micah Lancaster and Domonique Minor.

Fit Club Program Director Bucky Buchanan said that the kids did not even know what a triathlon was before they started.

When they were told that it was a 200 meter swim, 5.5 mile bike ride and a one mile run, the kids (who were chosen based on their participation from Louis Kids Fit Club) stepped up to the challenge.

Buchanan said that the kids trained “for a good month,” including Saturdays.

“They went to Eco Fitness a few times and the City of Charleston lets us use the pool for free,” he explained.

Angela Klick, store manager of TrySports in Mount Pleasant, said “We really enjoyed the relationship between Louie’s Kids and TrySports. It was great to see the look of accomplishment on the kids faces. It was truly a believe-achieve Moment.”

 TrySports provided Louie’s Kids with a personal coach, David Cross and customized training plan, including  bikes for training and for the day of the event, as well as helmets, bathing suits, technical T-shirt and goggles.

Buchanan gave the kids a pre-game message that was simple—relax.

“The only race you are doing is against yourself,” Buchanan coached.

“Experiencing that racing atmosphere is a whole other thing to overcome,” said Buchanan, who knows firsthand about swimming competively.

The goal was to get them across the finish line.

And they certainly made it.

Domonique Minor placed third in her age group.

“Last year these kids were broken in body, mind and spirit. This year they’ve not only done one of the largest races in North America, they now can say they’re ‘triathletes.’ I hope the triathalon will be a day these kids will always remember-one that they will remember how they rose to the occasion and overcame enormous obstacles. They now can do anything they put their minds to ...the sky’s the limit,” said Louie’s Kids Founder Louis Yuhasz.

(Helen Ravenel can be reached at helen@moultrienews.com.)