Sask Summer Games – Triathlete triumphs

Elle Campbell from Bud Miller Park takes second place in the bike leg of the July 25, 2024 Triathlon – Dan Gray – Meridian Source Photo

Triathletes from across the province, ages 12 to 15, gathered at the Sask. Summer Games on Thursday for their first day of competition, including Elle Campbell of Lloydminster.

Campbell enters College Ave. on her second bike ride – Dan Gray-Meridian Source photo

At the age of 12, after some encouragement from her mother, she decided to participate in the Summer Games.

“I do the mountain bike triathlon at school and have been doing it since first grade,” Campbell said. “Then we saw the ad in the paper for the summer games and my mom said, I have to try this.”

When it came time to qualify, that was another big challenge for her, finding out that her ATV race time and the qualifying time for the games were only 15 minutes apart.

After the qualifying match she still had some work to do.

“I got an invitation to come to Echo Lake for some training. I trained there and went biking and running in the morning. I’m in a swim club, so I swam with them.”

According to her athlete profile on the Sask. Summer Games website, she had three goals for herself coming into the competition. She wanted to make friends and have fun. Learning from her leaders and improving her skills was also a major goal for her this week. Last but not least, she wanted to perform to the best of her ability.

“I’m a 12-year-old against a 15-year-old, I’m going to do my best,” she told us on her last day of training.

In retrospect, her effort was truly rewarding. In her Girls Triathlon Final on July 25, she raced among 26 other competitors, ages 11 to 15. Her finish, just 25 seconds behind the leader, earned her a silver medal.

Stay up to date with the latest developments surrounding your competition all week long via Meridian Source.