Competitors: Renee Lane with brothers Ben and Tom at the bio lab. Picture: Tommy Ritchie 75706
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG Multi Sport Festival caters for everyone from elite athletes like Renee Lane to budding triathlon stars Ben Breguet, 8, and brother Tom, 6.
The youngsters will compete in the Geelong Independent Super-kidz triathlon, an all-abilities event in the festival on Geelong’s waterfront from February 10 to 12.
Renee, who has entered the festival’s long-course triathlon, said she would encourage students using Belmont’s Bio Lab to sign up as well.
Bio Lab, where Renee works as an education officer, is a Victorian BioScience Education Centre shared between Belmont High and Roslyn Primary schools. Renee took Ben and Tom on a tour of the $4.4 million facility ahead of the multi sport festival.
She said some of the lab’s equipment was so new it was still unavailable at Geelong Football Club, so players visited the centre for testing.
“We use equipment like GPS tracking, wireless timing, heart rate monitors and radar sports guns, giving the students real-time feedback,” Renee said.
“They do their sports activities and measure their capacities and use sports science to explain what is happening and why.”
Ben and Tom’s parents, Sam and Paul, will also take part in Geelong Multi Sport Festival, making the event a family affair.
Sam said she and Paul had competed in triathlons for years.
“The boys think it’s normal to go along and watch us compete. It’ll be a bit different when it’s us watching them participate,” she laughed.
Ben and Tom said they hoped to convince a few of their Newtown Primary School classmates to join in as well.
Ben said he was also a veteran of Run Geelong, a “really fun” event.
“I like the bike bit because you can go really fast,” he declared
Sam said the multi sport festival had something for everyone, no matter their level or ability.
More information about the festival, including the Geelong Independent Superkidz Triathlon, is available at geelongmultisport.com.au.
