Jacks Point in Queenstown played a superb host to the Contact National Schools Triathlon Championships, with over 600 competitors racing in the idyllic surroundings on a testing course around the world renowned Golf Resort settled into the foot of the Remarkables.
The feature events of the day were the U19 Championship with both boys and girls races producing stunning results and worthy champions. Michael Perree (Kristin School, Albany) upset his more fancied rivals to win the boys race, finishing a comfortable 15 seconds ahead of Josh Kenyon (Taupo Nui-a-tia College) with a further 18 seconds back to Cooper Rand (Saint Kentigern College Auckland).
17-year-old Perree was delighted with his performance.
"That feels awesome to be national champion, it really hasn't sunk in yet but it feels great. My swim wasn't so good today, I would have liked to have been further up the field but I guess I was happy enough. Once on the bike I just concentrated on a good cadence and getting to the lead as quickly as I could and then tried to hold on.
"Josh caught me early in the run and we ran together for a while before I made a surge up the hill on the second lap and managed to drop him and then it was a case of keeping my rhythm and holding on.”
The Brett Reid coached Perree was in his element around the stunning Jacks Point location.
"Wow, what a cool venue, I've never raced anywhere like this before, the scenery was amazing and the hills were great, this is an amazing course for race.”
17 year old runner up Kenyon echoed those sentiments about the course.
"This is a great course, fantastic to race on. I just didn't see the surge coming from Michael though and I couldn't go with him.”
The girl's race turned into a procession but what an impressive procession it was. Mikayla Nielsen (Correspondence School) backed up from her win at the Oceania and NZ U19 Championships in Wellington a fortnight ago with another impressive display, leading almost from start to finish to come home an incredible four minutes and one second ahead of defending champion Maddie Dillon (Kristin School, Albany).
"I think I was third out of the water and was struggling to feel my feet, they had gone a little numb. But I took the lead up the first hill on the bike and felt better the longer the race went on. So much of my improvement this past year is on the bike and that is thanks to the work I am doing with (coach) Mark Elliott.
"I love the venue though and the run was well suited to me with the grass and the hills, it suited my strength I think. I love cross country running and that felt a little bit like that today so yeah, I loved it and a national title feels fantastic.”
Trophies were also handed out for the schools with the best overall record across the U14, U16 and U19s with the best finisher from each school in those races counting towards an overall score. In the boys St Kentigerns just edged Auckland Grammar on count back while in the girls Taupo Nui-a-tia College was a clear winner.
Teams racing as always proved a popular part of the programme with many athletes doubling up and racing in the short and sharp team's format with school mates and teachers cheering them on.
Contact Schools Nationals
Jacks Point
Queenstown
Please note: full results will be posted at www.schoolstri.co.nz in the evening of March 31st
Year 7 Boys
150m Swim, 7.5km bike, 1.7km run
1. Kaleb Wright(Puketapu School)27:31
2. Bradley Cullen(Hautapu School)28:04
3. Fletcher Sharman (Clyde School)28:39
Year 8 Boys
150m, 7.5km, 1.7km
1. Matthew Manning (Saint Kentigern College) 22:46
2. Liam Cullen (Verdon College) 24:39
3. William Sutherland (Waikaka College)24:44
Year 7 Girls
150m, 7.5km, 1.7km
1. Arlia Schurr(Heaton Intermediate) 28:32
2. Sienna Strachan (Queenstown School) 30:07
3. Molly Wheeley(Limehills School) 30:56
Year 8 Girls
150m, 7.5km, 1.7km
1. Mikayla Harvey (Saint Kentigern College) 25:06S
2. Ella Harris(Cashmere Primary) 26:49
3. Aimee Forbes-Brown(Saint Kentigern College) 27:11
U14 Boys
350m, 10km, 2.5km
1. Liam Ward (Saint Kentigern College) 36:04
2. Quinn Wallwork(Pakuranga College) 37:01
3. Rainer Pye(Shirley Boys High) 37:06
U14 Girls
350m, 10km, 2.5km
1. Jaimee Leader(Palm North Girls High) 39:55
2. Jessica Kikstra(Christchurch Girls High) 40:38
3. Honor Hamlet(Huanui College) 40:58
U16 Boys
500m. 15km, 3.4km
1. Kieran Coates(Trident High School) 48:27
2. Jonty Morreau(Auck Grammar School) 49:05
3. Jay Wallwork(Pakuranga College) 49:31
U16 Girls
500m, 15km, 3.4km
1. Alana Lythe (Westlake Girls High) 53:03
2. Elise Salt (St Cuthbert's College) 54:55
3. Nicole van der Kaay (Taupo Nui-a-tia College) 55:43
U19 Boys
750m, 20km. 5.1km
1. Michael Perree (Kristin School) 1:05:31
2. Josh Kenyon(Taupo Nui-a-tia College) 1:05:46
3. Cooper Rand(Saint Kentigern College) 1:06:04
U19 Girls
750m, 20km, 5.1km
1. Mikayla Nielsen(Correspondence School)1:10:03
2. Maddie Dillon (Kristin School)1:14:04
3. Jaye Atkin (Rangiora High School)1:14:48
Teams
Year 7 Boys
1. Medbury School 25:21
2. Tokomariro High School36:31
3. Woodlands Primary School38:21
Year 8 Boys
1. Saint Kentigern College22:38
2. Waikaka School 23:43
3. Saint Kentigern College 24:24
Year 7 Girls
1. Limehills School29:58
2. Selwyn House School 30:05
3. Selwyn House School30:06
Year 8 Girls
1. Saint Kentigern College24:13
2. Cashmere Primary School 25:28
3. Clyde School26:07
U14 Boys
1. Saint Kentigern College 36:08
2. Taupo Nui-a-tia College36:20
3. James Hargest College36:37
U14 Girls
1. Palm North Girls High37:35
2. St Cuthberts College38:18
3. Tauranga Girls College39:12
U16 Girls
1. Taupo Nui-a-tia College55:35
2. Saint Kentigern College 56:07
3. James Hargest College 57:19
U16 Boys
1. Saint Kentigern College48:34
2. Saint Kentigern College51:25
3. Southland Boys High52:28
U19 Boys
1. Hamilton Boys High
2. Taupo Nui-a-tia College
3. St Kentigerns
U19 Girls
1. Diocesan Auckland 1:12:58
2. St Cuthberts College 1:15:08
3. Columba College 1:15:28
