Wright takes inspiration from race heavyweights

Wanganui triathlete James Wright studied the best names in his sport on Saturday and then went out and emulated them the very next day.

The 16-year-old Wanganui High School student won the 16-19 age group race at the Barfoot and Thompson ITU World Cup sprint distance triathlon in Auckland at the weekend.

Held as one of the events at the ITU World Triathlon Series opening round, Wright won his age group event - a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5.2km run - in one hour, 2.19 minutes, which also left him second overall across the grades in the sprint distance.

Father Colin Wright said conditions were perfect as his son led from the start of his age wave and didn't look back.

"James had watched the elites racing the previous day and was inspired by their performances.

"His winning medal was presented by Kate McIlroy who was the highest placed Kiwi in fourth place in the elite women's race on Saturday."

Wright has had a mixed season with second at the Rotorua Contact Triathlon, fifth at Whangamata Contact and 12th at Kinloch Contact Tri.

Locally, he was second in the AFFCO Triathlon and was the sole Wanganui representative at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Contact Triathlon in Pegasus, Christchurch, this March.

"Unfortunately he had a problem with removing his wetsuit coming out of the water and dropped from second to 16th going onto the bike leg," said Colin Wright.

Wright has been rewarded for his efforts with selection on the TRI NZ Youth High Performance Camp in Cambridge later this month.