MOUNT SINAI, NEW YORK – Lightning Warriors, a not-for-profit youth triathlon team, will be hosting its 4th annual Mini Maniac Youth Triathlon on Sunday September 17, 2023 at 7:00 AM at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai, New York.



This year’s Mini Maniac event will be geared toward triathletes of all levels between the ages of 7 and 17. While all racers will be participating in a youth triathlon, races will be divided into three separate age groups with swimming, biking and running distances varying accordingly. 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.



All Mini Maniac participants will be able to take part in training clinics with the Lightning Warriors team in the months leading up to the triathlon. 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 triathlons help 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 exuberate confidence and conquer their goals, both inside and outside of racing.



The Mini Maniac event is the largest sanctioned kids triathlon on Long Island with 135 participants in 2022, and an expected attendance of 200 racers this year. To register for Mini Maniac, visit www.runsignup.com/minimaniac. Registration ends on September 15, 2023 at 1:30 PM EDT.



Mini Maniacs is also seeking volunteers for this event. Anyone who is interested may sign up at www.runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/NY/MountSinai/MiniManicYouthTriathlon.



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About Lightning Warriors

Lightning Warriors is a Long Island based not-for-profit triathlon team focused on making the sport of triathlon available to all young athletes. Lightning Warriors’ goal is to unlock each member's potential as athletes and as leaders, encouraging athletes to excel in all levels of life. For more information, visit www.lightningwarriors.org.