Reigning champions Jack Moody and Grace Thek are hoping to defend their titles at the 2024 Integrity Homes Challenge Wānaka Half triathlon event next month.

The Challenge Wānaka Half is the flagship event of the triathlon festival, which also features a Bay to Bay Swim event, Aquabike, Cross Tri events and youth events in and around Wanaka.

The Half event begins with a 1.9km swim in Lake Wānaka followed by a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run through Bike Glendhu.

Grace (Australia) has podiumed in 20 of 36 middle distance races since she turned professional in 2018 and Jack (New Zealand) recently earned second place in the Taupo 70.3

Challenge Wānaka event director Jane Sharman said Grace and Jack are part of a very strong field of athletes due to compete.

Also in the womens’ field are current New Zealand Ironman Champion Els Visser from the (Netherlands), Wānaka’s Rebecca (Bec) Clarke and British athlete Laura Siddall. 

Jack will be up against tough competition in the mens’ field including Kiwis Mike Phillips and Kyle Smith and up-and-coming athletes like Colin Szuch, Nick Thompson, Sam Osborne, Tom Somerville, Fraser Walsh, Benjamin Zorgnottu and Brett Clifford.

“We’re thrilled to have an extremely competitive field this year with dynamic upcoming talent eager to test themselves on our unique terrain,” Jane said. 

Other events on the Challenge Wānaka calendar are the Puzzling World Junior and Intermediate Challenges for budding triathletes aged six to fifteen, the Mitre 10 Mega Adaptive and Secondary Schools Challenge, plus the Bay to Bay Competitive Swim, the Earshots Cross Triathlon and Duathlon and the Aquabike.

The Integrity Homes Challenge Wānaka Festival will be held from February 15-17, 2024, at Glendhu Bay. 

Read more: Challenge Wānaka events confirmed as world qualifiers

PHOTO: Supplied