Lightning Warriors, a not-for-profit youth triathlon team, will host its 6th annual Mini Maniac Youth Triathlon, with the addition of an inaugural Youth Duathlon for 2025. The full lineup of events will take place on September 13 at 6:30 a.m. at Smith Point Beach in Shirley.
This year’s Mini Maniac event will be geared toward athletes of all levels between the ages of 5 and 17. While all racers will be participating in a youth duathlon or triathlon, races will be divided into three separate age groups with swimming, biking and running distances varying accordingly. The duathlon will feature running and biking segments, beginning with a 100-meter run for each age group. 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 competitions helps to 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 duathlon and triathlon on Long Island with 181 participants in 2024, 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 12 at 6 p.m.