The 97 girls before their first year in the ELITE and SUB 23 category

Last year there were four Spanish triathletes who stood out in international junior category as we mentioned in an article about the growth of female triathlon in Spain At the end of last year, all of them reside and train at the Blume residence. 

They also share the 1997 birth year, so they are all of the same age and this year they are facing their first season in the sub23 category, where they will compete with the best national and international elites.

Last year they had the opportunity to deputize some competitions of the highest level such as the European sprint, the WTS of Hamburg or the Spanish Olympic Distance Elite championships. Today we are going to know a little better Cecilia Santamaría, Inés Santiago, Carmen Gómez ySara Guerrero.

We have asked you a series of questions about your birthplace, club, most outstanding results, goals in 2017 and how you see the Olympic distance. This is what each of them has told us:

CECILIA SANTAMARIA

I was born the 9 of February (1997) in Madrid. I swam all my life in the Royal Canoe Swimming Club and then competed as an independent in my first triathlons, then in the Cid Triathlon and later in the Cidade Lugo Fluvial, in which I am now. I am studying at the University of Fine Arts 1 course of Degree in Design at the UCM.

My best results have been those of this last year 2016: Spanish Champion of Triathlon, Duathlon and Acuatlón all in junior category, 2a in the Junior European Cup of Melilla, 8a in the Junior European Championship and 5a in the World Championship Junior. (A year to remember after a hard 2015 year injured).

My 2017 objectives are to progress as an elite triathlete, to take the rhythm of the Olympians, the competitions with the majors and above all to try to go to the European and World Championship sub 23 (a difficult goal since there are many girls who will fight for those places and with more experience).

Last year I competed my first Olympic triathlon at the Barcelona Triathlon and it was a very good experience, because I was competing alone for the first time and I was premiering at that distance. Besides, the previous day I had competed in the Grand Final of the Relay Cofidis. clubs in Mar de Pulpí. I had a great time and I did not have as much pressure as in other races and I can enjoy more in that aspect: a lot to gain and little to lose. In the end I was 5a. It was a good way to say goodbye to the 2016 season!

Finally I want to thank especially my family and people who support me every day, who is always there in good times and bad and suffer the same or more than us. And as a support to Macario Llorente, who has helped me with sports material Pearl iZumi and STEVENS bike without paying attention to results, they have always trusted me as a projection and in the end with their help I have achieved unimaginable results for me

 

INÉS SANTIAGO

I was born the 27 of May of 1997 and I belong to the club Triathlon Ferrol. I am currently studying Business Administration and Management. My most outstanding 2016 results are the 4 position in the junior world and the world gold by mixed Junior / Sub23 relays. I was also 4ª in the European and 2ª in the Spanish championship. I also ran in the Elite category, where I achieved the 7ª position in the European Sprint and the 33ª in the WTS in Hamburg

My main objectives for this season are to recover to the 100% of the injury I have had for a few months and to be constant training. With regard to the competitions I would love to qualify for the European and World Championship Sub23. It will be complicated but I will try it to the fullest. I will also compete in the European elite sprint because thanks to the result of last year I have a direct position. We will choose the rest of the competitions between my coaches and me on the fly

About the Olympic distance, I have only done an Olympic distance triathlon, two years ago. I do not have a good memory because although I came out of the water in the front group, running gave me flat at kilometer two and I went the whole race with a horrible pain.

Finally, I want to thank my sponsors for all their support. A Merida, BMK Narón, Club Natación and the Diputación de la Coruña for granting me one of their bags of aid for athletes.

Photo: Sebastian Sobota.

 

CARMEN GOMEZ

I was born in Pontevedra the 9 of August of 1997. I belong to the Ferrol Triathlon club and I am currently in the 2º career, Faculty of Fine Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid.

My best results are from before the injury, in 2014 I finished 5th in the junior European and 9th in the Youth Olympic Games and 2nd by continents. In 2015 and 2016 I still had problems, this is the first year that I am 100% recovered. In 2016 I would highlight the 3rd place in the cto. from Spain, the 10th in the European and the 21st in the World Cup, all in the junior category.

This season is a leap of category and change of distances, so my goals is to see how I face these changes and from there get to be the most ahead in the championship of Spain to try to qualify for the European and World sub23. I also try to compete and get international experience in European Cups, but above all I adapt to this new distance, the Olympic one that I have never run.

About help and sponsors I do not have any brands that help me individually, but the club has Voice help that has helped us with matching glasses to the whole team. And if I have to thank someone, it would be my family especially my older sister who is the one who helps me with all the material I need. Also to thank the federation for the Blume scholarship and to trust me and my coaches who are the ones who are with me every day in each training and doing the best at every moment.

SARA GUERRERO

I was born the 14 of December of 1997, I am the small one of the group. I belong to Tri Nautico Narón, this season I returned to the club where I started after spending three wonderful years in the Ferrol Triathlon. I am studying surgical dentistry in the Complutense of Madrid. My most outstanding results from last year are 5ª classified in the Tiszaujvaros junior European Cup in Hungary, 9ª classified (1ª junior) in the Cto. of Spain Elite in Olympic distance of Banyoles, 11ª classified (1ª junior) in the European Cup and Cto. of the Mediterranean of Altafulla in Tarragona. I participated in the World Cup in Cagliari (Italy) and I had to retire because of a puncture.

My goals for 2017 are to conform to the sub23 category (since it involves competing in the elite category) and little by little to make me a small space among the best in the country. But hey, step by step it comes out much better.

I debuted in Olympic distance in the Spanish distance championship and the truth is that I did well, very happy with the result and how I found that day, but it has only been once, I hope this year that by the change of category I will have to do the distance more times, follow that same line, I like the distance.

Finally I want to thank the support for this year, Brooks sneakers, Gobik brand specialized in cycling clothing that is starting to do in the triathlon, Novalux Optics a local store, clubnatación.com for the subject of training in water and recently I have closed a agreement with Bicycles Brais Chas that have facilitated and helped me to release my new bike, an MMR Adrenaline

. For a couple of years I've been an ambassador for the Educo Foundation, it's not really a sponsorship but it's my contribution to the foundation in the form of advertising and I'll wear your logo on the competition overalls. Also to thank all those people who already know who they are and who make everything possible.

 

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