By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

Several weeks ago, there was a story about a 9-year-old triathlete from Peachtree City named Kirsten Pretzer. It was announced that she would be competing in the IronKids Bread Triathlon National Championships in San Antonio, Texas. That meet is this weekend and it will be televised by ESPN at some point in the near future.

The triathlon is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12 and will be at Palo Alto College. The meet consists of a 100-meter pool swim, a 5K bike ride, and a 1K run for boys and girls 7-10. Senior division competitors, ages 11-14, swim 200 meters, bike 10 kilometers, and run two kilometers.

Pretzer is among four other triathletes from Georgia competing in the race. This year's series has attracted more children than ever before, because the event has earned Olympic status and will be a full medal sport in the 2000 Olympics.

In fact, past IronKids Triathlon champions Nick Radkewich (1985) and Hunter Kemper (1989) are top contenders for the 2000 Olympic team, while past champion Lance Armstrong is considered one of the world's best cyclists.

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