Comox Valley triathlete Sofia Cecic is headed to the BC Summer Games in Abbotsford in July.
Cecic, a Grade 9 Mark Isfeld student, has been training with PACE Multisport’s coach Lynda Magor for the past year and a half, steadily improving and preparing for the Summer Games.
This past weekend she qualified by racing at the Victoria Youth Triathlon at the University of Victoria. In a tightly contested race where there was one opportunity available to make the Summer Games team, Cecic surged ahead during the bike portion of the swim, bike and run event, besting her next competitor by just over a minute.
Ashley Christison gave a valiant effort but fell slightly short of grabbing the team spot. Danielle Leipoldt of Victoria won the female 14-17 year age group in a time of 37:38, but had already qualified to compete at the BC Summer Games at a race in March.
Extra wild card team spots may be handed to the highly competitive Vancouver Island and Central Coast Zone 6 Team, but this won’t be revealed for another two weeks.
William Robertson of Victoria grabbed the one remaining male team spot with his effort. Kyle Congdon will await news of the extra wild card allotment as he rounded out a competitive male field.
Anton Cecic, Sofia’s older brother, took the male 14-17 year category handily in a time of 36:10 but attended the Summer Games two years ago and is ineligible this year due to age restrictions for team members.
PACE Multisport has been holding triathlon and related sport clinics over the past two years in the Comox Valley and is looking to form the PACE Youth Multisport Racing Team.
Athletes interested in cross training or looking for a new sport should contact coach Lynda Magor at pacemultisport@gmail.com.
