Sanchez Smith and Madison Schindel head into this morning’s 34th Annual Clarien Iron Kids Triathlon and Carnival at Clearwater Beach in St David’s as favourites to win the overall prizes.

Less than month after winning the 25th Heritage Day Junior Classic, Smith stands a good chance of picking up the $1,000 overall prize for boys.

Already qualified for the Carifta Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships, to be held on August 17 and 18 in Barbados, the 13-year-old Smith heads into today’s competition as one of the front runners.

Smith faces tough competition in the boys 11 to 15 from Jens Drea, and Dylan Eiselt, who are his Carifta team-mates. Jackson Langley, last year’s overall winner, is no longer eligible to take part in the competition since he is now aged out.

Schindel, last year’s champion, has a great chance to claim top honours once again, in what will be her penultimate year of participation. Sofia Leclerc, Isla Cooze and Kelise Wade should make the competition exciting.

The talented Naomi MacGuinness won the 7 to 10 age category last year, but since she is now aged eleven, she is going up to the 11 to 15, where it remains to be seen how she will fare against older girls.

Owen Fosker, Adrian Myers and Lucas Eiselt are the boys to look out for in the 7 to 10. For the girls, the battle should be between Madeleine Friend and Sloane Wright.

Clearwater is set to be buzzing this morning, as organisers were expecting over 200 children to register by cut-off time last night. Aspiring triathletes will get to walk in the same footsteps as the island’s stars, Dame Flora Duffy, Tyler Smith and Erica Hawley, who are all heading to the Paris Olympics.

As has been the norm over the years, the 3 to 6, which is for beginners, where there no prizes are on offer, should have the highest participation. Last year, 90 registered for this age group, which is held mostly as an introduction to triathlon, as parents are allowed to assist their children.

Steven Petty, the president of the Bermuda Triathlon Association, is anticipating the level of participation to match that of last year.

“We figure we’ll reach the same figures as the last two years of a round total,’’ Petty said.

“This is the 34th year with Clarien as the same sponsor, which is unheard of in most sports that a sponsor would stay with an event for so long.

“It’s been the breeding ground for obviously Flora, now Tyler and Erica. Before that we had Tyler Butterfield.

“When it first started, it was more of a fun thing, we didn't have many events. Because of this event, we now have 35 children who have qualified to go to Carifta in Barbados, maybe a few more can still qualify between now and August.

“It’s an event for all ranges of abilities, you’re going to see Carifta potential medal winners, but you’ll also see all the way down.

“It takes a lot to put together an event like this, to make it safe for the children, so there are a lot volunteers in the swim, the bike, the run, and the transition, which is an important part of the race.”

Winners from last year were fortunate to have Duffy present to hand over the prizes, something not happening this year, with the Olympic medal-winner busy preparing for Paris.

“Last year she was injured and she came back to Bermuda in September,’’ Petty said.

“Obviously she’s in Colorado training really hard, as are the other two, Tyler and Erica.”