Josiah ups the ante at Massy Rainbow Cup 2016

After picking up a fourth-place finish in the 2015 Massy Rainbow Cup in Tobago, local triathlete Oein Josiah has moved up the ranks to win the event this time around when it was held on the 11th of June. With his sights set on a podium finish last year in his first overseas event, Josiah completed his task and has been in heavy training since and went back to Tobago more prepared than last time.

Clocking around 1:12 hours last year in the Sprint Triathlon event, the lanky athlete knocked off close to three minutes this time around to cross the line first with 1:09.30 hours. Hitting the water first for a 750 Metre swim before a 20K bike ride and a 5K run, Josiah topped the field of 46 which saw competitors from Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Martinique, Great Britain, USA, Canada, Germany and as far as Kazakhstan.
 
Speaking to The Barbados Advocate about the experience, Josiah explained that the swim was the toughest part of the race as it was very physical. Noting that he got a lot of contact which resulted in him having to stop to bleed the water from his goggles, Josiah said that he even got a long scratch on his leg. He went on to recount how the race went from there. 
 
“The swim was good. I came out of the water in 15th place or so and then I started to hammer the bike. I rode fast and just tried to catch up. I also recorded the fastest time on the bike. On the run, I caught up with the two leaders and other relay guys and I began to lead the race from halfway,” he said.
 
Also going on to clock the fastest time on the run, a clear two minutes faster than second-placed Trinidadian Hayden Reid (22.22 minutes), Josiah said that the terrain for the run and ride was hilly with an elevation change of 20 metres over 2.5 kilometres. His time of 34.36 minutes on the bike was attributed to having a better machine this time around and Josiah said that it was much lighter and more comfortable.
 
Saying that he will definitely be going back next year to defend his title, Josiah said that his training since last year’s edition readied him for the challenge. “I knew that it was going to be hilly terrain so I prepared for the hills, and I also prepared for choppy and dark waters. I have been doing a lot of swimming on the South Coast from Accra to Pebbles and the water is pretty choppy out there. All of this would have aided me in my preparation,” he said.
 
Josiah is now eyeing his next major event – the London AJ Bell Triathlon in August, and thanks his sponsors; Forever Health and Fitness, Lovemore Juices, Help 247 and PCS, as well as his family, friends and supporters.

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