Teretonga to host NZ schools duathlon champs

Invercargill will host the New Zealand secondary schools duathlon championships for the first time this weekend. 

The Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club successfully bid for the event, which will be staged at Teretonga Park on August 18. 

Club president Ginge Burnett hopes to have 100 to 150 starters across the categories. 

“We’ve got a great course and it’s a really good opportunity to have a hit out at this time of year, especially looking ahead to the New Zealand schools triathlon championships, which are being held as part of the Challenge Wanaka event in February.” 

New Zealand under 19 triathlon champion Jaxon Taylor and fellow Southland triathlete Lachie Baird, both member of Academy Southland, will be amongst the frontrunners at the duathlon championships, Burnett said. 

The format includes an opening run, followed by a bike section on the Teretonga motor racing circuit, with a run to finish. 

The nature of duathlon meant that strong runners usually had an advantage. 

“The Teretonga course will be really hard and fast, the bike will be super-fast on the smooth tarmac of the racing circuit which makes for really exciting racing.”