Challenge Wanaka Schools' Triathlon
By Andrew Willmott | Posted: Tuesday February 23, 2021
Last week, over 380 U-14, U-16 and U-19 athletes battled it out on a brand new course as part of the Challenge Wanaka Schools’ Triathlon, incorporating the Otago Secondary Schools’ Triathlon Champs and a Tri NZ Youth Series race.
It was the most competitors and quite possibly some of the best competitors we have seen at the event, too.
Having been previously based at Pembroke Park, in the heart of Wanaka township, the event moved out to Glendhu Bay this year. A beautiful lake swim remained but the bike and run courses became more undulating and in hot conditions challenged even the most hardened NZ age-groupers.
Otago Boys' High School was well represented, with Harry Summers and Javara Clark competing in the U-16 individual section and three teams participating across the U-16 and U-19 teams events.
Otago Boys’ athletes dominated the swim, often being first out of the water or they were very close to the front. This was crucial in setting up their races and the overall success of the group. The results were:
U-14 OBHS (Johnathon King, Jayden Van Kessel and Adam Mainvil-Baxter) 4th U-14 teams Otago Champs and 6th Challenge Wanaka Schools.
Harry Summers 1st U-16 Otago Champs and 4th Challenge Wanaka Schools.
Javara Clark 7th Otago Champs and 20th Challenge Wanaka Schools.
U-16 Blue (Eddie Wright, James Gardner and Ronan Melville) 1st Otago Champs and 1st Challenge Wanaka Schools.
U-19 Blue (Henry Kirk, James Howard and Jacob Willmott) 1st Otago Champs and 1st Challenge Wanaka Schools.
U-19 White (Felix Townend, Daniel Hayman and Luke Geddes) 2nd Otago Champs and 3rd Challenge Wanaka Schools.
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