Luftensteiner, Volcan conquer Africa triathlon Cup in Kilifi

Luftensteiner claimed the men’s elite title in 1:00:41, edging out Hungary’s Zsombor Dévay (1:00:44) and fellow Austrian Philip Pertl (1:00:51). Germany’s Lukas Meckel (1:01:15) and Tim Semmler (1:01:40) completed the top five.

In the women’s elite race, Volcan clocked 1:09:12 to secure gold for Venezuela, ahead of Germany’s Finja Schierl (1:09:21) and Japan’s Himeka Sato (1:09:32). Japan’s Minori Ikeno (1:12:13) placed fourth, while Kenya’s Megan Irungu finished fifth in 1:23:03, marking a strong end to a milestone weekend for the host nation.

For Volcan, the victory was both a personal triumph and a learning experience on her first visit to Kenya, coming just a week after her second-place finish at the Africa Cup in Uganda.

“I am very happy. The race was good, though the weather was hot, but I liked it. It’s my first time in Kenya, and I’ve really enjoyed the experience,” she said.

Having competed in both the duathlon and triathlon over two days, she described the shift as a true test of adaptability and endurance.

“Yesterday I did the duathlon, and today the triathlon. The difference is clear — in the duathlon, there’s no swim, so today was about facing the water and seeing if I could finish strong after winning yesterday,” she said. “The swim was rough, but once I committed to finishing, I was happy. Even though it’s an individual sport, in triathlon you work together on the bike before battling it out on the run. That’s what makes it special.”

Kenya’s Megan Irungu, who won the women’s duathlon elite title earlier in the weekend, said the triathlon course demanded careful pacing.

“The triathlon course was flatter than Saturday’s duathlon route but had more turns, so pacing was key,” she said. “With endurance sports, you have to know when to hold back and when to push. Racing alongside top athletes was a learning experience.”

“I tend to panic a lot in transition, so I had to take a breather and remind myself what I was doing,” said Faiza. “It’s very important as athletes to work hard and learn from international competitors.”

She called for stronger local support systems to grow the sport.

“The biggest need is more opportunities, proper training, technical guidance, and nutrition support,” she said. “I thank my parents for the support they’ve given me through this journey.”

The Kilifi event, jointly organised by Triathlon Kenya, Africa Triathlon and World Triathlon, brought together competitors from 11 nations, highlighting Kenya’s growing presence in global multisport.

State Department of Sports Deputy Director Caroline Kariuki commended the record international turnout and emphasised the event’s role in developing future champions.

“This championship, sponsored by the Ministry of Sports, has drawn participants from as far as Japan, Germany, Venezuela, Morocco, and Mauritius. It’s a testament to Kenya’s capacity to host world-standard events,” she said.

“There has been a lot of talent development, and we hope to see more youth representing Kenya in Senegal next year. Sports can be an employer, and we appeal to all stakeholders to keep the momentum going.”