Butterfield and Lewis headline entries for Tokio Triathlon

Two of the biggest names in Bermuda sport will headline the entries for the Tokio Millennium Re 2014 Sprint Triathlon.

Two-time Olympian Tyler Butterfield and Paralympian Jessica Lewis will both compete in the event on June 8.

Last year’s event was won by Butterfield, who is sponsored by Tokio, in a time of 59 minutes and 37 seconds.

Butterfield said: “This is an event I look forward to every year. I love coming back to Bermuda to compete and I really enjoy seeing the young kids taking part.

“The Tokio Millennium Re Triathlon is a great way to introduce people to the sport of triathlon and I always see a lot of commitment from those participating in the event. I hope we see many more people taking part this year.”

Lewis, who is also sponsored by Tokio as she tries to qualify for the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil, will also take part in the triathlon as part of a team.

“This is a great event. It takes dedication to train for something like this and it is good to see people giving it a try. It is amazing that so many young people get involved.”

But the event isn’t just for the best of the best, as Tokio is encouraging people of all abilities to come out and participate.

Ed Jordan, head of Tokio Millennium Re’s Bermuda branch, said: “We have categories that suit just about everyone and we are hoping that everyone takes part either individually or as a team.

“As a company we are committed to helping children and adults live healthy lifestyles and encouraging a positive attitude towards health. We would love people to get involved in this event and get fit.

“Bermuda has a lot of health issues and being fit and living healthier is a way to reduce our reliance on the healthcare system.”

There are five race categories in the event — Senior Individual, Senior Team, Try-a-Tri, Senior School Challenge and the Junior Duathlon.

The Sprint Triathlon involves a 750m swim, a 20km bike ride and a 5km run. The Try–a-Tri, designed for those new to the sport, is a 200m swim, 10km bike ride, and a 2km run.

Children aged seven to ten-years-old can compete in a duathlon comprised of a 1km run, 4km bike and another 1km run. Juniors 11 to 14-years-old will compete over a longer distance — 2km run, 8km bike and 2km run.

The Senior School challenge is completed in school teams. For the duathlon there is a team of two - one person runs 2k, the second person bikes 8km and the runner completes another 2k to finish. The triathlon teams consist of three members - one person swims 200m, one bikes 10km and one person runs 2km.

Mr Jordan added: “The Try-a-Tri, school and junior events are designed to introduce a new audience to the sport and to encourage participation at an early age. These events are part of our commitment to the community. They are fun events and I would encourage people to take part.”

Prize categories are: overall male and female winner; (Re)Insurance Cup with a $5,000 charitable donation; the Corporate Cup with a $5,000 charitable donation and the Senior School Challenge with cash prize for first, second and third in the duathlon and triathlon.

People wanting more information about the event can e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.tokiomillennium.com or the Tokio Triathlon Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TokioTriathlon