According to aquatics center director Kinsey Wallace, the aquatics center will now be switching focus from preparing for swim meets to preparing for the upcoming Carmel Swim Club (CSC) triathlon on April 29. However, while this triathlon is sponsored by the CSC, Wallace said that everyone is able to participate.

“It’s one of the times of the year that my lifeguards may actually have to use their skills, because the triathlon is done in an indoor pool. Some people sign up even if they have no clue how to swim,” Wallace said.

According to Wallace, prospective triathletes who don’t know how to swim need not worry, as she said she was thinking about using the weekends prior to the triathlon to give more preparatory opportunities.

Wallace said that children will also be able to participate in this event, but the amount of swimming they do will be dictated based upon their age. According to Wallace, children ages 12 and under will do a 300-meter swim and those ages 10 and under will do a 200-meter swim. Other participants will complete the full 400-meter swim.

“There’s always kids that cry at the end. They swim down one end and my guards stay down there, and they literally turn into cheerleaders trying to motivate the kids to turn around and go back,” Wallace said.

“Some of the kids with Carmel Swim Club will participate, so it’ll be cool to see how they’ll do,” Jeremy Kline, CSC coach and lifeguard, said.

Wallace said she would like to warn triathletes to watch out for slippery floors, as immediately after they finish the swimming section, they willbe running, dripping wet, through the aquatics center lobby. Wallace said she will be ordering rubber mats to help with the slippery situation, but still advises participants to be careful.

“If you get the lobby floor wet in any shape or form, it turns into an ice skating rink,” Wallace said.