More than a thousand junior triathletes descended on Challenge Wanaka yesterday, bringing their determination and fun to the course.

The young athletes, aged from Year One to Year Six, completed various lengths of the course depending on their age - and all with a smile.

The majority of the athletes came from local primary schools (Wanaka Primary, Take Karara, Holy Family School, Hawea Flat School, and Tarras) but some came from further afar to join the party. 

Junior cyclists PHOTO: Sean Beale 

Lennox Heath (Hawea Flat School) biked the course on his BMX. PHOTO: Supplied

The place getters were:

Year One boys

First: Joe McAndie (Holy Family)

Second: Oliver Noonan (Holy Family)

Third: James Sheppard (Wanaka Primary)

Year One girls

First: Zara Sherwin (Hawea Flat School)

Second: Zara Ellison (Wanaka Primary)

Third: Harriet Taylor (Holy Family)

Year Two boys

First: Rio Carnie (Wanaka Primary)

Second: Jake Norman (Holy Family)

Third: Eli Highsted (Holy Family)

Year Two girls

First: Boh Fairmaid (Wanaka Primary)

Second: Lara Beams (Wanaka Primary)

Third: Caley Clifford (Wanaka Primary)

Year Three boys

First: Jared Enoka (Take Karara)

Second: Vince Pickett (Hawea Flat School)

Third: Thomas Maling (Holy Family)

Year Three girls

First: Emily Boswell (Wanaka Primary)

Second: Lilia Hatton 

Third: Eva Innes (Holy Family)

Year Four Boys

First: Blake Broomhall 

Second: Robbie Lampe 

Third: Theo Taylor (Wanaka Primary)

Year Four Girls

First: Hana Carnie (Holy Family)

Second: Neave O’Connell

Third: Zoe Innes (Holy Family)

Year Five Boys

First: Nixon Dunlop (Take Karara)

Second: Vincent Lamb

Third: Ollie O’Connell

Year Five Girls

First: Holly Bryce

Second: Eva Small (Hawea Flat)

Third: Brooke Mclachlan (Hawea Flat)

Year Six Boys

First: Jarred Ferguson (Wanaka Primary)

Second: Cooper Norman (Holy Family)

Third: Oscar Good (Wanaka Primary)

Year Six Girls

First: Sophie Lampe 

Second: Liv Fairmaid (Wanaka Primary)

Third: Fleur Jansen (Wanaka Primary)

Today’s action starts at 6:45am on the lakefront with the professionals, followed by hundreds of age groupers racing in the Challenge Asia Pacific Championships and Garth Barfoot Aqua Bike.