Teen Jake has triathlon pegged

He may have London on his mind but Palmerston North schoolboy triathlete Jake Jackson-Grammer gave Wanganui his undivided attention on Sunday.

The 17-year-old was the only competitor of 32 individuals and 18 two or three-person teams to break the hour mark as he won the annual AFFCO triathlon.

The 2013 edition was the first year the AFFCO Imlay Wanganui-sponsored event was held in conjunction with Wanganui Multisport & Triathlon Club, with the transitions and finishing line at their clubrooms on Anzac Parade.

Although a shorter option was available, most of the over-60 athletes chose the sprint distance event of a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

The 11am start was a swim from the Dublin St bridge heading to the ramp at the clubrooms, before making two 10km laps by bike up and down State Highway 4.

It all finished with the two running laps of 2.5km around Kowhai Park and back.

Jackson-Grammer's official recorded time of 58.79 minutes was pleasing for the Manawatu Triathlon Club member, who is looking towards the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in London in September.

Competing every fortnight through the recent drought, he was also pleased to have some overcast conditions and a little precipitation to ease the journey.

"It was better, it's been hot lately.

"It's a good course. The swim was quite hard with the current - I was pushing up to the side and it was pushing me out."

Jackson-Grammer came back from an eight-month injury last year, just starting with his running before getting back on the bike and into the water.

The fastest woman home was local Margaret Tyson in one hour, 11.45 minutes.

Quickest men's team of Gareth Wright and Tom Osbourne were only 24 seconds over the hour. Best mixed team was Kim Whyte, Simon Becket and Grant McLeod in 1.06.50.