The triathlon championships are for schools who nominate individual competitors and teams from students in years 7 to 12 or if in year 6 born in 2012. Find out more about the event and how to participate.

Who can participate

To participate in the event

• schools must be affiliated with School Sport SA.
• competitors must be in years 7 to 12.
• competitors in year 6 must be turning 13 in the 2024 and can only compete in the state trials.

Age categories are calculated based on the athlete year of birth the year of competition.

• Junior categories (born in 2010, 2011 or 2012)
• Intermediate categories (born in 2008 or 2009)
• Senior categories (born in 2004 to 2007)

For individual events, competitors must participate in their age group.

For the teams event, competitors can participate in an older age group to create a team.

Where and when

West Lakes Canoe Club. Corner Bower Road and Old Port Road, West Lakes

Tuesday 5 December.

Course maps are available with the leg information.

In the event of unsuitable conditions, the event may be altered, postponed or cancelled if required. Nominating schools will be contacted.

Individual state championships and come ‘n’ try

• Registration 8.10am to 8.50am
• Officials meeting 8.50am
• Competitor briefing 9.00am
• Race start time 9.30am.
• Wave start order for will be male then female in each category beginning with state championships, Seniors first, followed by intermediates then juniors. Followed by come‘n’try seniors, intermediates and juniors.
• Presentations approximately 11.20am

Teams event

• Registration 10.30am to 11.40am
• Officials meeting 11.40am
• Competitor briefing 11.50am
• Race start time 12.20pm
• Presentations approximately 2.15pm

Results

See results for all races live

View the 2023 triathlon championships results report. (PDF 930 KB)

Entry fees

• $16.50 including GST per student for the individual state trials and come ‘n’ try competitions.
• $44.00 including GST per team for the teams event.

No payment is required on the day. A tax invoice will be sent to schools after the event.

School responsibilities

Schools with multiple individual or team entries will be required to provide an official on the day, contact details of your official must be included on the nomination form.

Schools must ensure competitors have sufficient understanding of the course. Please check race maps carefully. Any competitors who deviate from the stated course will be disqualified.

Please walk students through the transitions process.

If any competitors withdraw during the race, notify officials and return their transponder. Schools will be invoiced for any transponders that are not returned.

How to enter

Schools must submit their nomination form by Tuesday 21 November.

• State trials.
• Come n try.
• Teams.

Schools must ensure that

• students and their caregivers acknowledge and accept the risk involved in participating in a triathlon and students have a suitable level of fitness to participate.
• appropriate caregiver consent is obtained and all consent forms and medical details are brought to the event in case an accident or medical incident occurs.

Summary of state trials, come ‘n’ try and teams swim, cycle and run details.

State trials

Summary of event table – come n try

Summary of event table – teams

Wearing your number and transponder

For individual state trial and come ‘n’ try competitors

• Numbers to be in black texta on their right arm and right leg.
• Transponder to be work on the left ankle with the blue section facing outwards.

For team competitors

• Male and female teams will be in green texta on their left arm or left leg.
• Mixed teams will be in red texta on their left arm or left leg.
• Swimmers must have their number on their left arm
• Cyclists must have their number pinned to their lower back with four pins in each corner and on their left calf in texta.
• Runners must have their number pinned to their front with four pins in each corner and their left calf in texta.
• Torso must be covered on bike & run and no bare feet on the bike or run.
• Transponders are to be worn on the left ankle with the blue section to the outside and only to be removed at your team member’s bike, the cyclist removes the transponder from the swimmer and places on themselves. The runner removes the transponder from the cyclist and place on themselves.

Swim leg

• All competitors to supply their own swim caps. Swim caps must be worn throughout the entire swim leg.
• The start will be in knee deep water.
• Surf life savers will cover the swim leg.
• It is essential that students are competent in open water swimming over the category distance.
• If a competitor has trouble, raise one hand into the air and a surf life saver will assist.

Cycle leg

View the Cycle leg map  (PDF 1 MB)

• Competitors must wear an Australian Standards approved helmet that is securely fastened when the bike is in moving.
• Shoes are recommended to be worn in transition when exiting and entering with the bike.
• Bikes must not be ridden in the transition area.
• Time trial bikes are not permitted for this event.
• Road and mountain bikes are permitted.
• Clip-on bars are permitted providing they don’t exceed the foremost line of the brake leavers.
• Straight forward-facing clip-on bars must have a solid factory bridge or be touching each other.
• Follow the instructions of traffic controllers and marshals who will assist at turns on the course.
• Cycle inside the coned lanes while on the course.
• Normal road rules apply. Be aware of parked cars and traffic on the course.
• It is suggested to ride with a full bottle of water.
• Drafting is when a cyclist benefits from a wind break provided by a competitor ahead or on the side of you. Drafting is banned in this championship.
• Stop/start time penalties will be added for those who violate this rule.
• Maintain a minimum distance of 10m, if passing, cyclists are allowed a maximum of 20 seconds.
• Once you’ve violated this zone, you are committed to pass or drop back within 20 seconds or less.

Run leg

View the run leg map  (PDF 1 MB)

• Run only on the footpath and or inside the designated lanes.
• Keep to the right to avoid other competitors.
• The turnaround is anticlockwise.
• Water stations are at the run start, turnaround and finish.
• Officials will record competitor numbers at the turnaround, call out your number when required.
• Two lap runners (junior, intermediate, and senior) will have their arm marked on completion of their first lap.

Transition

View the transition area map-close  (PDF 1 MB)

View the transition area map-large  (PDF 1 MB)

Transition for teams

• Competitors will change from swim to cycle legs and cycle to run legs by transferring the transponder from one team member to the next at the location in the bike rack where the cyclist has their bike racked. The incoming competitor will grab hold of the rack before their teammate removes the transponder and attaches to their own ankle.
• Cyclists will be instructed in groups to enter the transition area to stand by their bike at the appropriate time.
• Once the cyclists have exited the runners will be instructed in groups to enter the transition at the bike location of their cyclist member.

Finish

• Competitors run through the finish chute and keep moving until off the timing mat.
• Competitors numbers will be recorded, and transponder collected.
• For the state trials, individual details will be taken from the top 6 in each age group.
• Complimentary refreshments will be available in front of the canoe club.

Presentations

First, second and third medals will be awarded to placegetters in each category.

Sam White overall winning school plaque

Is awarded to the school with the most points from the state championship, come‘n’try and teams events. Competitors and teams are awarded points based on their placing

• First 6 points
• Second 5 points
• Third 4 points
• Fourth 3 points
• Fifth 2 points
• Sixth 1 point.

All competitors are asked to stay for the presentations for each category.

Facilities

Competitors can fill their own drink bottles from the water stations.

Food and drink will be available from the catering vans.

Some shelters will be in place for schools to use. Remember this is a shared space.

Parking

We ask that schools with buses drop students off at the canoe club then park on the opposite side of Bower Road to where the event is being held. Buses can return at the end of the day to pick students up. Parents are asked to park on the opposite side of Bower Road. There is minimal parking near the clubhouse on the southern side of Bower Road and, with other stakeholders still accessing the facilities, this will help reduce congestion.

COVID-Safe

All attendees are required to follow current COVID-Safe practices. 

Teaching and learning

Opportunities exist for students to obtain recognition for filling officials’ roles at this event. Participation certificates detailing the learning outcomes from participating in the Triathlon are also available from School Sport SA. Contact School Sport SA for more information.

Previous results and history

• 2022 results report (PDF 1 MB)
• 2022 individual results 
• 2022 team results
• Championship previous winners summary

Previous winners history