Over 1,800 Kids Compete At Florida Youth Triathlon

The fourth annual First Coast Kids Triathlon brought a crowd of thousands to the campus of the University of North Florida.

Thousands showed up at the campus at UNF on Sunday, with more than 1,800 of them youngsters who were swimming, riding bikes and running.

They competed in the First Coast Kids Triathlon, the 4th annual event. Triathlon is one of the fastest growing sports in the world right now and that was evident at UNF.

“We will have more than 1,800 finishers today ages 6-15 so this is the largest kids triathlon of it’s kind in the country,” said Tom Gildersleeve of Kids Triathlon, Inc. , a non-profit organization putting on the event.

“We try to make it fun, and it’s a real family event. Triathlon is a sport you can do for like and that is what we want to happen,” said Gildersleeve. “We work with the schools and the YMCA to grow the sport. 800 kids are competing in a triathlon for the first time today.”

Gildersleeve organizes the event. He did it four years ago and then was approached by the NFL Play 60 program to put on similar events in other NFL cities. He now does it full-time, and is headed next to Nashville to put one on in June.

Read more: Firstcoastnews.com