Tryathlon a success
Palmerston North’s young athletes have come out in force to take on a gruelling triathlon course.
More than 2200 people entered this year’s Sanitarium Weet-Bix Tryathlon at Ongley Park in Palmerston North on Tuesday – the biggest turnout for a midweek event in New Zealand.
Peter Levett, the event co-ordinator, was thrilled with the strong attendance.
‘‘Palmy covers the middle million so we’re very happy.’’
And in a transTasman victory for Kiwis, Levett said about one in 150 children in New Zealand sign up for the Tryathlon. In Australia, that figure balloons to one in 1500.
Two keen young participants, Lucy Summerfield and Miela Slight, both 10, crossed the finish line holding hands.
Tuesday’s event was Lucy’s first Tryathlon, while it was Miela’s third time.
Both girls trained hard for the event, with Lucy running and biking around her front lawn and swimming in the school pool.
Miela also did athletics and used the school pool to prepare.
At the finish line, waiting to congratulate the young athletes and present them with their medals, were Olympic silver medallist K1 canoeist Luuka Jones, Olympic bronze medallist yachtsman Sam Meech and former Black Sticks hockey captain Kayla Whitelock.