Commonwealth Games: Triathlon coach Camilla tips squad to excel in Birmingham

Kenya will have teenage tri-athlete Aisha Nasser and twenty-year-old Joseph Okal representing the country at the Sprint Distance Triathlon at the Commonwealth Games set for 28 July to 8 August in Birmingham. 

Team coach Camilla Lydia says that the team has had proper preparations ahead of the games and the expectations for the duo remain high. 

"This is the best prepared team the country has ever produced in years to compete at the Games. We are hopeful that will translate to solid performances for the two even as they face some of the best athletes in the world," offered the tactician. 

Nasser's journey to making it to the Kenyan team doing duty has not been an easy one as she has had to compete in three trials.

However, in the end, she emerged victorious even as the team was whittled down from four to two with one athlete for each gender. 

The eighteen year old is, however, determined to put that behind her and repay her hard work with good performance in what is her first major championship, as a tri-athlete,representing Kenya. 

"Triathlon is one of the toughest endurance events and our goal is to be the African giants and show the member states in the commonwealth how far we have come as we fight to secure a podium place," Camilla said. 

The tactician lauded Aisha for withstanding one of the most demanding selection processes to bag the single slot provided.

"There was stiff competition from the country’s best of the best and we are confident our number ones from the selection races will do us proud," she concluded.

Triathlon will make its third successive appearance at Birmingham. After debuting at Manchester 2002, it remained on the programme at Melbourne 2006, but did not make another appearance until Glasgow 2014.