PORTSMOUTH — Eshe Stockton competed with the big girls and boys on Sunday, and she more than held her own.

Among females 19 and under, the 12-year-old Portsmouth Middle School student came in third place in the Sprint Triathlon held in Boston on Sunday.

The race was included in the 2023 Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon. The event returned to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Carson Beach in South Boston. More than 1,000 athletes competed.

Eshe competed the course — which included separate legs of swimming (750 meters), biking (17.5 kilometers) and running (5.5 kilometers) — in a time of 1 hour, 21 minutes and 53 seconds. 

She placed in third place out of nine competitors in the Female 19 & Under Sprint division, 31st place out of 204 women overall, and 114th place out of 536 competitors overall. (Other athletes competed in the Olympic Race division, which featured longer courses.)

After finishing in fifth place among the 19-and-under females in swimming and in third place for biking, Eshe saved her best stuff for last. In the final running leg, she was the fastest in her age group, completing the 2.1-mile course in a time of 14:49.

Like mother, like daughter

Eshe’s mom, Anne Marie Almirol, is also a triathlete who competed in the Sprint Triathlon. 

She finished just ahead of her daughter in a time of 1:20:02. Almirol came in second place out of 15 competing in the Female 45-49 division, 23rd place by gender, and 86th place overall.

An award ceremony and party followed in the Athlete Village so all participants could celebrate their accomplishments and toast competitors.  

“The Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon was honored to host hundreds of kids on Saturday for Kids Day and drawing high-level athletes and beginners from around the world to participate in the adult race on Sunday,” said Michael O’Neil, president of the Boston Triathlon.

“This is our 15th year hosting the triathlon and we are always honored to partner with the city of Boston and the state of Massachusetts, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Amazon, and Boston Medical Center to host this event for the community.”  

For more information, visit www.bostontri.com.