Southerner favourite at Lake Hayes

Former Southland triathlete Jamie Whyte will be taking on the locals at tomorrow's Lake Hayes triathlon near Queenstown.

Whyte, now based in Auckland when he's not competing in professional races in the United States, will start as the favourite in what is New Zealand's longest-running triathlon.

He's not expected to have things all his own way.

Invercargill's Matt King has returned from a short stint in Australia and won the opening round of Iconic Adventure's four-round Salomon-sponsored Southern Tri Series at Jacks Point earlier this month.

He headed home training partner Bobby Douglas by just under half a minute.

Troy McAlister won the junior section at Jacks Point and was fourth overall.

Although not well known, the Central Southland College pupil did finish sixth in his first attempt at the under 16 division of the national secondary schools finals last year despite having a broken wrist.

He is targeting a top finish at next year's secondary schools event.

Douglas and Aaron Barclay are using the series, as well as other races including the Lake Dunstan triathlon on January 2, to build up to the Contact Tri Series, while King will contest the half-ironman distance race at Challenge Wanaka in mid-January.

Iconic Adventures general manager Tracey Neil said more than 70 entries had been received for the Lake Hayes race when online entries closed on Christmas Eve.

Entries will be taken on the day, with a field of about 120 expected for the event.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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