Triathlon: Powerful running tees up Lee for junior title

Brianna Lee.

It was a teacher's suggestion that saw Brianna Lee compete in her first triathlon.

Two years later and she's still having fun with the sport and posting some quick times.

The Year 9 Napier Girls' High School student was the first junior girl home at the Hawke's Bay Secondary School Championships at the weekend. She completed the short course (200m swim, 14km cycle, 2km run,) in 40 minutes 48 seconds.

Thanks to her powerful running, Lee has been leading the junior girls most of the Shed 2 Triathlon and Duathlon Series.

Running, is her main focus, but she still finds time to do triathlon, play netball and soccer.

"It keeps me fit and it's fun."

In the boy's race Will Tidswell was the first junior home in 36m01s.

Claudi Layton was the first senior girl on the sprint course (750m swim 21km cycle 4.5km run) in 1hr14m12s and Tom Webb of Taradale High School was first senior boy in 1h15m52s.

The schools race was run alongside Triathlon Hawke's Bay's final Shed 2 Triathlon and Duathlon Series race, which was the club championship race.

Karen Toulmin (open) finished a strong season winning the Avanti Plus sprint triathlon in 1h4m48s. Linda Exeter-Grant (vet 2) was second in 1h7m10s.

Jeremy Natusch (open) took the win for the men in 1h1m47s. A puncture ended Steve Charles' race early. Charles (open) had dominated the men's field during the season. Ken Maclaren (vet 2) was the second man home in 1h3m56s.

Kairon Pimm (junior) posted another personal best on the Swim Gym short course in 40m43s. Sue Smith (vet 1) was the fastest woman on the course in 48m12s.

The teacher who sparked Brianna's interest also raced at the weekend. Cheri Gallagher, competed in the Avanti Plus sprint triathlon, the sixth woman home in the Vet 1 division in 1h 23m12s.