Young athletes have day in sun

With more than 1000 children taking part, the next Bevan Docherty or Jo Lawn could have been among the crowd at the Weet-Bix Tryathlon in Mosgiel yesterday.

Family members and supporters filled Memorial Park to bask in the sunshine as children aged 7 to 15 swam, biked and ran their way through the 10km course.

With that number of children wearing coloured swimming caps, pushing bikes, sipping water and posing for photos with their medals, it was no wonder one man was overheard suggesting a tent for lost and bewildered parents be set up.

However, the day was really about the children as the famous faces handing out medals at the finish-line noted.

Georgina Evers-Swindell was thrilled to see so many "beautiful smiles" coming across the line, while Alison Shanks congratulated them for working so hard with "lots of puffing and rosy red faces" to be seen.

Spokesman Phil Irons said meeting sporting heroes was a "big part" of the event for children and many took the opportunity to have their race shirt signed by the pair.

Now in its 19th year, the event continued to encourage New Zealand children to be active, Mr Irons said.

The day had gone "brilliantly well".

It "sows the seeds of success" as many of the nation's athletes started out competing in the tryathlon, he said.

Dunedin was the sixth event on the calendar, with the next taking place in Christchurch this weekend.

ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz