The fourth annual kids’ triathlon for the Franklin Boys and Girls Club will give youth a chance to show off their athletics prowess while having fun — and raising money for the club.
Five- to 14-year-olds can compete in a swimming, biking and running competition at Franklin Community High School on June 25.
Proceeds from registration fees will help support the club, including its new STEM (science, engineering, math, technology) robotics after-school classes, said Boys and Girls Club executive director Teresa McClure.
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The club hires an instructor for the classes from Sylvan Learning Center and would like to extend the program to the summer, but more funds would be needed, she said. The race would help with those costs.
“It is a fundraiser, but that’s not the primary reason we host it,” she said. “More than anything we want kids to enjoy themselves and get a little exercise while they do it.”
McClure organized a kids triathlon event when she worked for a parks department in South Bend. The success of that event has been replicated in Franklin, she said.
Kids compete by swimming 25 yards across the high school pool — 13- and 14-year-olds swim 50 yards — and then transition to the cycling portion of the event, which is a 1.1-mile trek around the school.
The triathlon concludes with the running race, which ends at the school’s track by the football field.
All participants get a medal, and trophies are awarded to the top three finishers in each age division. Children compete in a 5- to 7-year-old category, 8- to 10-year-olds, 11- and 12-year-olds and 13- and 14-year-olds.
The triathlon event makes the competition interesting for the kids because they’re competing with each other but also trying to beat their own records.
“You try to better your time and enjoy yourself while you’re out there,” McClure said.
The Boys and Girls Club of Franklin serves about 1,300 kids per year through athletics programs and afterschool programs. On average, 200 kids are at the club after school during the school year and 150 during the summer.
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What: Franklin Boys and Girls Club Triathlon for kids ages 5 to 14
When: 8 a.m. June 25.
Where: Franklin Community High School
What: Children will compete in their age category in a 25- or 50-yard swim, a 1.1-mile bike ride and a half-mile run.
To note: Children must have two-wheel bikes without training wheels and a helmet.
Afterwards: A celebration includes bounce houses, face painting and snacks.
Cost: $32. Children will receive a T-shirt, kids’ triathlon drawstring backpack (with snacks) and a medal. Scholarships are available for families with financial hardship.
To register: Go to boysgirlsfranklin.org and download the registration form. Registrations are due June 20.
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