More than 200 teenagers in Co Louth took part yesterday in what is believed to be the first triathlon to be arranged as part of the school year.
They swam for 200m, ran for 3km and cycled for 9km in what was, for the majority, the first ever such event they had taken part in.
“They are out of breath now, but there was great enthusiasm for it and we will do it again,” said Johnny McCabe, a PE teacher with the Bush secondary school.
Fellow organiser Garda Kevin Conway, who has also taken part in triathlons, said: “Instead of going into the students to talk about drugs, the dangers of knives and negative things like that, we are, with this, doing something for them rather than against them.”
The benefits will hopefully be life-long, said Mary Browne, co-ordinator of the Louth Sports Partnership.“The vast majority have never done a triathlon before, not seen one before or been involved in one in any shape or form. It was a chance to compete, and they could either do it as a team or an individual.”
“It is great to know what your fitness levels are and if you can complete the triathlon. It is good to make teenagers aware of what is needed to be fit,” said Neill Mulholland (15), who attends Coláiste Rís in Dundalk and took part as a team member with friends Ciaran McEnteggart (15) and Jordan Donegan (16).