Schools Triathlon: Open Water And Aquathlon Champs

8 April 2016

For immediate release from Triathlon New Zealand and the Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club

OPEN WATER AND AQUATHLON CHAMPS PLAY OUT ON BRILLIANT QUEENSTOWN DAY

Queenstown turned on a stunner for the final day of action at the Calder Stewart National Schools Triathlon Championships, with the athletes moving to Lake Hayes for the running of the Open Water Swim and Aquathlon National Championships.

One of the highlights of the day and indeed the entire festival came late in the piece with the run of Hamish Miller (Bethlehem College) as he outlasted a fast finishing Janus Staufenberg (Mt Aspring College) that had the crowd cheering right through to the line. The effort of Miller and Staufenberg highlighted what it means to win while representing your school, in particular for those in their final year and Miller emptied the tank in racing to victory.

The day had dawned a little ominously with low cloud and cool temperatures in the wake of the weather front that had moved through overnight, but by late morning that had given way to beautiful sunshine and temperatures approaching the low twenties as beanies and gloves made way for sunglasses and ice creams.

The open water swim did test the athletes however, with a water temperature of a cool 15.4 degrees, it was very much wetsuits and a sharp intake of breath upon entering the water.

Once again there was some brilliant racing, with the highlights including a blanket finish for the U16 boys with Danyon Hardie (Hamilton Boys High) just edging a thrilling race that saw the first four athletes all over the line inside a five second spread.

Amongst the most impressive efforts in the open water swim was that of Rebecca Cheyne, (Pukekohe High School). With a beautiful swim stroke, Cheyne proved a class above the competition to win by 8 seconds, making the swim look effortless as she cut through the top of Lake Hayes with ease.

It was then time for the aquathlon (swim/run) Championships, with many athletes backing up after the swim and enjoying the by now perfect conditions with the sun streaming down and the support of schoolmates, coaches and parents ringing around the Lake Hayes venue.

As mentioned Hamish Miller took out the feature U19 men’s race in close fashion but Ari Graham (St Andrews) was too strong in the women’s, running into the lead early on the final leg and easing away by 15 seconds from a fast finishing Jacey Cropp (Rangitoto College) and early leader Bayley-Rose Van de Coolwijk (St Mary’s Wellington).

Other winners on the final day included a double up for Dylan McCullough (St Kentigern), taking out the U16 aquathlon title to go with his triathlon win yesterday and a strong performance from Hannah Knighton (Waikato Dio) who overcame a constant cold and cough to win the U16 Girls aquathlon title.

Hosted by the Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club, Event Director Sally Hayes reflected on a superb two days, with over 800 entries from all round the country, from as far north as Whangarei and East as Gisborne and of course from many schools in the South.

“The support these past two days has been tremendous, we want to say a huge thanks to all of the schools who have invested the time and resource in these athletes to have them here for the Calder Stewart Nationals. We love it here in the South, we are biased of course but where in the world could you race that is better than this in terms of the scenery and hospitality?

“We can’t put on this sort of event without the support of many, to all of our commercial and trust fund partners we thank you for what you have helped put on for all the schools, in particular Calder Stewart. But also to our volunteers, our marshalls and officials, those on the water and on the course ensuring a safe race, thank you for your part in a great couple of days.”

Calder Stewart National Schools Triathlon Championships
Open Water Swim
Results

U12 Boys

1. Tom Freeman 00:07:15 Darfield High School

2. Daniel Johnston 00:07:28 Huntley School

3. Luke Hair 00:07:46 Saint Kentigern Boys' School

U12 Girls

1. Sophie Spencer 00:06:08 Saint Kentigern College

2. Rebecca Hurley 00:06:32 Cobham Intermediate School

3. Martina White 00:06:35 Verdon College

U13 Boys

1. Will Bason 00:05:36 Saint Kentigern College

2. Carlos Hardie 00:05:53 Southwell School

3. Jack Findlay 00:06:02 Mt Aspiring College

U13 Girls

1. Courtney Elliott 00:05:56 Mount Hutt College

2. Bree Middleton 00:06:00 Mount Hutt College

3. Prudence Fowler 00:06:16 Mount Albert Grammar School

U14 Boys

1. Thomas Bishop 00:11:58 Taupo Nui-a-tia College

2. Damien Doyle 00:12:00 Otaki College

3. Andrew Matthews 00:13:10 Sacred Heart College

U14 Girls

1. Sarah Miller 00:12:39 Waikato Diocesan School for Girls

2. Chloe Tattersfield 00:12:54 St Cuthbert's College

3. Olivia Andrew 00:13:16 St Hilda's Collegiate

U16 Boys

1. Danyon Hardie 00:09:54 Hamilton Boys' High School

2. Quinton Hurley 00:09:56 St Andrews Secondary School

3. Ryan Church 00:09:57 Saint Kentigern College

U16 Girls

1. Rebecca Cheyne 00:10:36 Pukekohe High School

2. Hannah Knighton 00:10:54 Waikato Diocesan School for Girls

3. Tahlia Pook 00:11:00 Taupo Nui-a-tia College

U19 Boys

1. Angus Syme 00:14:45 St Andrews Secondary School

2. Hamish Miller 00:14:46 Bethlehem College

3. David Martin 00:14:48 Palmerston North Boys' High School

U19 Girls

1. Claudia Ashby 00:31:13 Sacred Heart Girls College Hamilton

2. Jacey Cropp 00:31:15 Rangitoto College

3. Bayley-Rose Van de Coolwijk 00:31:53 St Mary's College (Wellington)

Aquathlon (swim/run)

Results

U12 Boys

1. Sam Idiens 00:06:23 Medbury School

2. Matthew Ney 00:07:00 Gisborne Intermediate School

3. Charles Lord 00:07:09 Medbury School

U12 Girls

1. Sophie Spencer 00:06:28 Saint Kentigern College

2. Sophie Howell 00:06:50 Hilltop School

3. Emma Faherty 00:06:58 James Hargest College Junior Campus

U13 Boys

1. William Taylor 00:05:48 Christchurch Boys' High School

2. Leo Staufenberg 00:06:06 Mt Aspiring College

3. Jack Findlay 00:06:09 Mt Aspiring College

U13 Girls

1. Courtney Elliott 00:06:11 Mount Hutt College

2. Sacha McLeod 00:6:20 Waikato Diocesan

3. Georgia Hair 00:06:33 Diocesan School for Girls Auckland

U14 Boys

1. Callum Hockey 00:11:27 Rangitoto College

2. Caleb Ney 00:11:33 Gisborne Boys' High School

3. William Leong 00:11:40 Palmerston North Boys' High School

U14 Girls

1. Natalya Carter 00:11:41 Baradene College of the Sacred Heart

2. Sarah Miller 00:11:45 Waikato Diocesan School for Girls

3. Lucy Farrell 00:11:52 Waikato Diocesan School for Girls

U16 Boys

1. Dylan McCullough 00:14:38 U16 1 Male 1 Saint Kentigern College

2. Josiah Ney 00:14:50 U16 2 Male 2 Gisborne Boys' High School

3. Saxon Morgan 00:14:53 U16 3 Male 3 St Andrews Secondary School

U19 Boys

1. Hamish Miller 00:14:29 Bethlehem College

2. Janus Staufenberg 00:14:31 Mt Aspiring College

3. Bradley Cullen 00:14:50 Hamilton Boys' High School

U19 Girls

1. Ari Graham 00:24:45 St Andrews Secondary School

2. Jacey Cropp 00:25:00 Rangitoto College

3. Bayley-Rose Van de Coolwijk 00:25:05 St Mary's College (Wellington)

For complete results, CLICK HERE

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