Near perfect conditions greeted the 800 competitors at the Contact National Schools Triathlon Championships at Pegasus in Christchurch today.
 Jaimee Leader(Photo: Triathlon NZ; click to enlarge) |
Racing was fierce throughout all age groups from Year 7 to U19 and in the teams racing in the afternoon with individual honours and school pride driving the athletes on.
Highlights included a great battle between Tessa McNair and Jaimee Leader in the U16 girl's race, with Leader winning by 14 seconds. She was delighted with her race, another win in a superb season for the Sam Warriner coached athlete out of Palmerston North Girls High.
"That went really well today. Tessa was with me pretty much the whole way, it was a great race and as they say, you run for the dough and that is what I managed to do today."
Just as pleased with his win in the U16 boys was Kyle Smith from Taupo Nui-a-Tia College as he won out over a star studded field.
"I didn't have a great race here last time, I was struggling with some travel sickness but today was great, I smashed that today and raced so well, I am so pleased, this is my last year in U16's so it is great to win against such a strong field."
Tayler Reid from Gisborne was first across the line in the men's U19 race but faced a nervous wait as he protested an initial disqualification for a transgression on the bike. That protest from Reid was upheld and he was relieved to take his win.
 Tayler Reid(Photo: Triathlon NZ; click to enlarge) |
"I am so relieved that the decision went my way after the race went so well. My plan was to go hard in the swim and get a gap on the bike and then do the rest on my own on the bike and finish with a hard run. The plan worked out so I was happy in that sense. The swim was cool with the island and the bike was technical with lots of corners but quick on the flat smooth roads."
The win was another impressive performance from 16 year old Reid who was in his first year in the U19 age group and could dominate for a few years to come yet.
Nicole van der Kaay had a great tussle with Alana Lythe in the women's U19 race with the two working together well on the bike to distance the field before van der Kaay pulled away on the run to win by 17 seconds.
"What a great day to race and get a win. I led the swim which was great and then Alana and I rode together on the bike and kept rotating really well. It was great to ride in a draft legal race and work together with Alana like that, it is a great experience for elite races that we might race in the future."
Racing concluded with the teams events in the afternoon, again raced in great conditions with the lightest of North Easterly winds starting to cool temperatures down a little. Friday morning will see the National Schools Open Water Championships at the same Pegasus venue.
 Nicole van der Kaay(Photo: Triathlon NZ; click to enlarge) |
Prize giving also saw a sneak preview announcement for a major new initiative from triathlon New Zealand with the establishment of the Tri NZ Youth Foundation. Tri NZ Patron and Foundation Trustee Peter Fitzsimmons spoke to the gathered students, teachers and parents about the Foundation which will assist in three key areas; Athletes, Secondary Schools partnership and Coach Development. The Foundation will be officially announced at the Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon event on April 6.
Results: Contact National Schools Triathlon Championships
Pegasus, Christchurch
Full results will be posted online: click here
Year 7 Girls (150m swim, 8km bike, 1.6km run)
1. Molly Leckie (St Margarets College) 29:27
2. Sophie Wilkinson (Baradene College) 29:51
3. Kate Stoddart (Cashmere Primary) 29:54
Year 7 Boys (150m swim, 8km bike, 1.6km run)
1. Callum Hancock (Wellesley College) 24:54
2. Kiaan Watts (Hilltop School) 25:24
3. Archie Ritchie (Remarkables Primary) 25:46
Year 8 Girls (150m swim, 8km bike, 1.6km run)
1. Kendall Vaughan (St Cuthberts College) 26:04
2. Charlotte Dingemans (Cambridge Middle School) 26:27
3. Dana Purdy (Whakowongo School) 26:33
Year 8 Boys (150m swim, 8km bike, 1.6km run)
1. Dylan McCullogh (St Kentigerns College) 23:28
2. Gregor Findlay (Mt Aspiring College) 24:15
3. Saxon Morgan (St Andrews Prep School) 24:18
U14 Girls (350m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run)
1. Ari Graham (St Andrews College) 35:31
2. Arlia Schurr (Christchurch Girls High) 36:31
3. Gorgi Van Lienen (Palmerston North Girls) 37:23
U14 Boys (350m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run)
1. Kaleb Wright (Lindisfarne) 33:48
2. Henry Gautrey (Hutt International Boys) 34:17
3. Janus Staufenberg (Mt Aspiring College) 34:23
U16 Girls (500m swim, 15km bike, 4km run)
1. Jaimee Leader (Palmerston North Girl)s 49:45
2. Tessa McNair (Takapuna Grammar) 49:59
3. Elizabeth Stannard (Palmerston North Girls) 51:43
U16 Boys (500m swim, 15km bike, 4km run)
1. Kyle Smith (Taupo Nui-a-Tia College) 45:32
2. Dan Hoy (Westlake Boys High) 46:04
3. Liam Ward (St Kentigern College) 46:46
U19 Girls (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)
1. Nicole van der Kaay (Taupo Nui-a-Tia) 1:07:34
2. Alana Lythe (Westlake Girls High) 1:07:51
3. Laura Steffens (St Andrews College) 1:10:09
U19 Boys (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)
1. Tayler Reid (Gisborne Boys High) 1:00:28
2. Callum Ross (Auckland Grammar) 1:03:17
3. Sam Esltob (St Bedes College) 1:03:36
