Lightning Warriors, a not-for-profit youth triathlon team, will be hosting its 5th annual Mini Maniac Youth Triathlon on Sunday September 15, 2024 at 6:30 AM at Smith Point Beach in Shirley, New York.
This year’s Mini Maniac event will be geared toward triathletes of all levels between the ages of 7 and 17. While all racers will be participating in a youth triathlon, races will be divided into three separate age groups with swimming, biking and running distances varying accordingly. Younger athletes are also encouraged to register to participate in the Splash & Dash event, which is a 50-meter swim and a quarter-mile run for athletes between the ages of 5 and 7.
“I am excited to see the smiles and accomplishments as each athlete crosses the finish line and for those first-timers being called a triathlete,” says Lightning Warriors Head Coach Noah Lam.
Favor bags will also be distributed to each racer, as well as medals for all finishers, awards for the top male and female finishers and post-race refreshments.
Participating in youth triathlons helps build positive physical activity habits in children. According to Lam, “Every child should be able to swim, bike and run as those are lifetime skills… We’ve also seen that physical activity can provide immense benefits for mental health, more self-esteem, a sharper focus on achieving goals and a better ability to connect with other kids.”
Athletes’ individual skills will also be enhanced by being a part of a team in a healthy competitive and supportive space. “You get to find new ways to overcome adversity in a safe environment,” Lam states. “These skills will thus motivate them to exude confidence and conquer their goals, both inside and outside of racing.”
The Mini Maniac event is the largest sanctioned kids triathlon on Long Island with 168 participants in 2023, and an expected attendance of 200 racers this year, including 100 first-time registrants. To register for Mini Maniac, visit www.runsignup.com/minimaniac. Registration ends on September 14, 2024 at 1:00 PM EDT.
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About Lightning Warriors
Lightning Warriors is a Long Island-based not-for-profit triathlon team focused on making the sport of triathlon available to all young athletes. Lightning Warriors’ goal is to unlock each member’s potential as athletes and as leaders, encouraging athletes to excel in all levels of life. For more information, visit www.lightningwarriors.org.
