This year's All Schools Triathlon, set around Lake Kawana saw record numbers of junior athletes line up to test themselves against their peers in the aquathlon or triathlon events. Most athletes were vying for the opportunity to represent their School Sport Region at the Queensland School Sport Triathlon & Aquathlon Championships in Hervey Bay next year.
The technical bike course and hot, windy conditions made for exciting and tactical racing. Across all events, Metropolitan North School Region led the way with eight athletes on the podium, followed by South Coast with five athletes.
For many, the aquathlon event is their first foray into the world of triathlon and plenty of first-timers donned their Vorgee caps to race in the run-swim-run event. Blake Turner (Metropolitan North) and Ella Liow (Sunshine Coast) pushed through to the end, winning gold medals in the Primary Aquathlon. Next up were the youngest athletes, aged 7-9 years old, where Archer Boorer (Metropolitan North) and Mia Rose Croucamp (Metropolitan North) were the stars of the show.
In the Senior Triathlon event (750m/20km/5km) both winners, Lachlan Jones (South Coast) and Victoria Gllies (Capricornia) held commanding leads throughout their entire race. Victoria showed exemplary sportsmanship, encouraging her peers throughout the race. Surf athlete and first-time triathlete Sam McAuliffe (South Coast) displayed a perfect performance, taking out the win in the intermediate age category (600m/16km/4km) while Richelle Hill (Metropolitan North) held off the strong competition from last year’s winner Tara Sosinski (South Coast) and Chloe McLennan (Metropolitan North) to take out the Intermediate female honours. Jackson Medway (Metropolitan West) flew home in the run to take out the junior male category while Gabby Martin (Metropolitan North) displayed a dominant performance against the junior females to take home the gold medal.
While individual performances were the key on the day, athletes also gained points for their schools in the inaugural Champion School competition, which was taken out by Genesis Christian College.
Congratulations to all those who participated, and good luck to those competing in Hervey Bay next year.
