NMI gets a taste of 2027 Pacific Games triathlon course with Regional Development Cup

NMI’s triathlon representatives Shawna Brennfleck and Christian Villacrusis had a taste of what’s to come in the 2027 Pacific Games as they raced on the course that will be used for it in Tahiti when they competed in the 3rd World Triathlon Regional Development Cup on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Villacrusis finished eighth with a time of 1:12:23, while Brennfleck placed 10th in 1:22:20. Both recorded personal bests in official World Triathlon events.

“The course prepared us well for the competition next year,” Brennfleck said. “We will be training in the same water and on the same roads as the course.” For Villacrusis and Brennfleck, the Tahiti race was also a chance to see where they stand with less than a year to go before the Pacific Games.

Both athletes, along with coach Robyn Spaeth then stayed in Tahiti after the event to train with New Zealand high-performance coach Chris Clarke, and are leaving tomorrow.

The Regional Development Cup series began in Fiji in December 2025, followed by Palau in March 2026. The races brought athletes and coaches from around Oceania including Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Guam, NMI, and the Cook Islands together for competition and training.

For NMI, the trips are also an opportunity to get more people involved in triathlon back home, especially younger athletes. “One of our biggest goals is to introduce more youth to triathlon and create a clear pathway for them to develop as athletes,” said Brennfleck.

The RDCs give younger athletes a chance to train alongside athletes from other Pacific countries and work with coaches from outside the CNMI.

“We want to make sure our youth are aware of these opportunities and have the support and resources needed to take advantage of them,” she said. “By growing our youth participation now, we hope to build a stronger triathlon community in the CNMI and develop the next generation of athletes who can compete locally, regionally, and eventually represent the CNMI on the international stage.”

The Triathlon Association of the CNMI will hold two Pacific Games qualifying races this year, on Oct. 17 and Nov. 14. The top three times from the men’s races and the top three times from the women’s races will be used for Pacific Games selection.

There will be one more Regional Development Cup in March 2027 before the Games.