HercUlean ITF Triathlon: Participants Beat High Tides, Scorching Sun At Konark

Bhubaneswar: The second edition of HercUlean ITF Triathlon- Konark 2021 was  organised with strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines.

The race that started on February 27, was gruelling this year due to high tide situation and peak summer. The highly motivated athletes, however, put in their best to finish the race.

“The triathletes proved that India has a great scope for this sport and with states like Odisha supporting it, we can soon invite international triathletes too to the state”, said Abhishek Mishra, Founder & CEO, Tabono Sports.

The race started with sprint category and the team from Herculean triathlon as well as those from Sports and Youth Services department participated. Swimmers were allowed to go in batches with a staggered start as per Covid-19 protocol.

Sprint and Olympic triathlon race category participant had a good time in the swim leg but the participants of full distance triathlon and Tri.5 category had to face the high tide that made the swim part as the toughest leg in this editions race.

Since each category of races had different cut-off trimmings the race was on from 6 am till 12:30 the next day.

The scenic cycling route on Puri-Konark Marine Drive pumped up the enthusiasm of triathletes who wish to join the race again in the third edition 2022. This edition of the Herculean Triathlon race had seen participation from 15 states of the country.

Winners:

In the Herculean full distance race category in Men’s Vardhan Shirish from Pune, Maharashtra came first finishing 3.5km swim, 180 km cycling, and 42k run in 13 hr 38 min.

In the Tri.5 race category (1.75km swim, 90km cycling, 21km run) Cdr Yashpal Yadav from (Indian Navy) wins the race in 6 hr 30 min 23 sec in men’s and female category Tapasya Singh (Bangalore, Karnataka) in 7hrs 16min.

Olympic Distance (1.5km swim, 40km cycling, 10km run) winners in Male is Rahul Shinde (Pune, Maharashtra clocking 2 hr and 11min and Female Aarthi S (Chennai, Tamil Nadu wins the race by finishing it in 2 hrs 51min.

Sprint Category (750mtr swim, 20km cycle and 5km Run) Male, Dilip Kumar from Pune, Maharashtra in 1hr 6 min, and in Female Mansi Mohite (Pune, Maharashtra) scored 1st position in 1 hr 13 min.