New Zealand’s top triathlete and multi-sport athlete Braden Currie (Wanaka) came from behind to win for the second year in a row the Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka today (Saturday February 15) and become the Challenge Asia Pacific Champion 2020.

Braden came out of the water in second to Christchurch’s Dylan McNeice closely followed by Mike Phillips the current Ironman New Zealand champion. 

On the bike leg he dropped to fourth behind a fast Mike Phillips, Brit Joe Skipper and Australian Matt Burton, who came second last year in Wanaka. 

Braden showed his grit and years in the game as he headed out of the bike transition at a blistering pace on the run, and soon caught Skipper. Matt and Mike were harder to run down but, on the Outlet Track he managed to pass both and kept his lead to finish by 1min 3secs.

Braden set a blistering pace on the bike leg. PHOTO: Jemma Wells Photography

Braden made it look easy as he passed through the finish to take top spot as Asia Pacific Champ. A strong Matt Burton ground down Mike Phillips on the Outlet Track to finish second with Mike in third and Kiwi Jack Moody on their tail.

"It is absolutely amazing today. Having been in Wanaka for 11 years now you just know everyone and it is phenomenal out on course. What an amazing community and it is great to be here," Braden said after the race. 

"The other highlight was having my daughter Bella and son Tarn there at the finish line.”

The women's professional field today was arguably the strongest it has ever been in the 14 years of Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka. 

Rebecca Clarke from Auckland came out of the water first with Radka Kahlefeldt (the Czech triathlete and Olympian) seconds behind her, with Laura Wood from Christchurch and Tauranga’s Hannah Wells and 2019 champion, hot on their heels. 

Radka Kahlefeldt on the way to winning her second Challenge Asia Pacific Championship. PHOTO: Jemma Wells Photography

The bike leg was all about the battle for top spot between Rebecca and Radka, who were neck and neck all the way round the scenic course. Hannah Wells dug deep and got herself back into contention by the new Mount Barker leg of the course and ground her way into third. 

The top three women came into T2 together and the crowds knew the run would be a battle. Hannah passed Rebecca but could not catch the Czech who dominated the run from the start

“Maybe I biked a little bit too hard to catch them and just found the run a little bit tough and just did what I could,” Hannah said. “Radka was world class out there today. So happy with how my day went.”

They ended up finishing 3min 19 secs apart giving Radka her second Challenge Asia Pacific Championship win (she won in 2018). The battle for third was highly fought over on the run with American powerhouse Meredith Kessler kicking it into gear and third place in the last section of the tough run course.

“It’s a beautiful course but I think it’s better to not know the course because if you don’t know the hills that are waiting for you then you push harder,” Radka said. Due to flight delays she arrived with her young family only on Thursday evening, so did not have a chance to check the run course.

“It’s a one-loop run course which is tough as well. It is a really technical run and you have to watch every single step because it would be so easy to make a mistake and roll your ankle. It's hard to get the rhythm and keep the pace because it is up and down, left and right so it’s a really solid run, but really nice.”

As well as the strong international professional field there were a thousand Age Group athletes for the Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka incorporating the Challenge Asia Pacific Championships and the Garth Barfoot Aqua Bike fighting it out for top spots or just to challenge themselves. 

The cooler weather and calm day helped the athletes have a great race and allowed some PB's to be broken under blue skies in Wanaka.

Results:

Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka Results

Garth Barfoot Aqua Bike Results