Sporty kids stretch their wings

Picture / Sarah Ivey

Ten-year-old Charlotte Cornwall was one of more than 1300 local kids to swim, bike and run their way through the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids Try-athlon in Manurewa yesterday morning.

The 1320-strong field of 7- to 15-year-olds at Mountford Park was the largest in the event's 22-year history. Competitors such as Charlotte were greeted at the finishing line by cyclist Alison Shanks - who once competed in the event - and Silver Ferns netballer Temepara Bailey.

The try-athlon will feature in 14 cities and towns throughout the country over summer. It will return to Auckland for events in St Heliers on February 16 and North Shore on April 6.

Sanitarium general manager Pierre van Heerden said the Manukau leg was a huge success: "It was great to see the kids giving it their all, while having fun with their friends."