Congratulations go out to several local young triathletes who took part in the Ironkids Triathlon Championship qualifier and National Championship race in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend.  9 year old Mark Anthony Gonzales, 7 year old Jenna Murphee and 8 year old Lana Murphee from El Paso and 8 year old Ruth Wong and 11 year old Emma Wong from Las Cruces placed high in their respective age groups on Saturday to qualify them for the National Championship on Sunday.  Mark Anthony won his age group by over 2 minutes and was the third overall male in the Intermediate Division (9-11 years of age).  Jenna Murphee and Lana Murphee were third in the 7 and 8 year old categories, while Emma Wong was fifth in the 11 year old category.  The top five in each age bracket qualified for Nationals. 

 

At the National Championship, where there were over 250 participants and 27 States represented, Mark Anthony, who just missed the podium position, placed 4^th, Lana Murphee placed 8^th, Jenna Murphee placed 12^th and Emma Wong placed 15^th in each of their respective age groups.  There were six other qualifying races throughout the United States where kids had a chance to qualify for Nationals.  This was an impressive showing for each of these local kids considering they had to race back-to-back days.

 

Ironkids races are owned by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), the same company that owns the rights to all of the Ironman Triathlon races throughout the world.  Ironkids has introduced some of the sports’ greats with past champions including several current Olympians and seven-time Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong.