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OMAHA, Nebraska (Omaha World-Herald) — For many Ironhawk Juniors, their triathlon journey began with uncertainty.
But despite the race’s innate challenges — and temperatures triggering an extreme heat warning — 195 young women crossed the finish line Sunday morning at the College of Saint Mary for the nonprofit’s ninth annual race.
The race began at 8 a.m. when participants kicked off with the swim course inside the Lied Fitness Center on the college’s campus.
Addie Scherb, a 10-year-old from Council Bluffs, said that her favorite part of the event was swimming.
“It’s really fun for me and I like doing different types of strokes,” Scherb said.
After completing the swim, the girls transitioned to the bike course on the Keystone Trail and finished with a run around the campus.
Unlike her older sister, 8-year-old Maggie Scherb was most excited for the bike course because she enjoys biking outside of triathlon practice.
The Ironhawk Juniors triathlon program wraps up a free eight-week program that teaches girls ages 7 to 14 fitness, biking, running and swimming, but also lifelong skills of teamwork and confidence.
Erin Sullivan, co-founder and president of Ironhawk Juniors, said that the girls grow close throughout the regimen.
“One of the kids fell last week,” Sullivan said. “She was so embarrassed … and every single kid in her group came over to her to hug her, to tell her she’d be okay. It’s just how it goes.”
Sullivan said the adults don’t have to tell them to help; the girls just do it.
Mandy Bender volunteers with the group and works on creating activities at their practices. She said she’s been able to see many participants grow over the course of their practices.
“There are some girls that this is the first time doing the program, so to see them come in kind of shy and timid, and now they’re all just excited,” Bender said.
The event splits juniors into two different age groups. Girls 7 to 10 years old swam 100 yards, biked three miles and completed a 0.75-mile run. The 11- to 14-year-old age group consisted of a 200-yard swim, 6-mile bike ride and 1.5-mile run.
The program started in 2018 and over the years has helped more than 1,000 girls — of all athletic backgrounds — cross the finish line.
Since then, some girls who have grown out of eligibility have come back and volunteered for the event. Evelyn Ferguson, 18, was a former Ironhawk who now helps her younger sisters participate in the event.
“It’s like a rite of passage,” Ferguson said. “I know it sounds so cliche, but I’m like a role model for them.”
Ferguson said that she loves volunteering because of the connections she gets to make with the girls, which she finds fulfilling.
“The community just kind of shaped me into who I was so then I just thought I’d give back,” Ferguson said.
Ironhawk organizers said they don’t want financial struggles to be the reason any young girl couldn’t participate. So, all necessary equipment, including bikes, is provided free of charge.
“If you can’t like, sign up for a sport, then you can do this for free,” Addie Scherb said.
Free swimming and biking lessons started in April to prepare for July’s event.
Since 2018, Ironhawk Juniors has provided more than 200 swimsuits, 300 bicycles, 350 helmets and 250 pairs of running shoes to participants at no cost, according to program directors.
Michelle Bandur, a co-founder of Ironhawk Juniors, said that the event isn’t just about the triathlon or physical fitness, but about having a place where the girls can support each other and help work together on self-confidence.
“There’s a lot of things for boys out there, but for girls to come together and do this and feel safe and they can be themselves,” Bandur said.
Ferguson said that girls considering joining in the future should just do it.
“It’s worth it,” Ferguson said. “It sounds scary, but it’s so fun and everyone’s here to help you.”
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