Three young athletes from Darfield High School are diving headfirst into training as they prepare to take on the legendary Kathmandu Coast to Coast. 

The trio will be one of the youngest teams to compete, with mountain runner Seth Vargo just meeting the minimum age requirement of 14 on race day. His teammates Hayden Maultsaid and William Thrower will be 15. 

The teens, who met through school and have played sports together, will compete as a team in the Two Day event after claiming the Kathmandu Academy prize. 

Launched in 2015, the Kathmandu Academy aims to support young multisport athletes by providing expert guidance and essential gear to help them complete the Coast to Coast. 

The boys have received complimentary entry into the sold-out event, $1000 worth of Kathmandu gear, a free camping spot at the Kumara Racecourse for team members and support crew, and a Barracuda kayak for their school. 

They will also get free coaching and mentoring to help them prepare for the race. 

Seth admitted feeling nervous about the river crossings, but was excited for the rest of the run, which reminded him of hunting trips with his dad. 

“I told dad I wanted to go in the hurt locker. He’s completed a few Coast to Coasts and won his category last year. He told me that the run is a very big hurt locker,” Seth said, referencing the point of a run where everything starts to feel brutally hard, both physically and mentally. 

Hayden, the biker of the group, is quietly confident in his biking ability but still has some nerves about the race. 

“I’m looking forward to the race, it will be a great challenge for us, and I'm glad I get to do it with my mates so we can support each other through it.” 

Kayaker William Thrower has spent lots of time on the water and has completed his grade 2 certificate in the sport. 

“I’m feeling really good about my section of the race, I’ve been doing heaps of training. My friends and I work well together so I think we can go pretty far,” William said.   

Race Director Glen Currie said the initiative continues to open doors for young competitors, eager to give the race a go. 

“Encouraging youth participation has been a key focus for us. Thanks to our partners, we’re able to make this event more accessible to the next generation,” Currie said. 

“It’s inspiring to see young athletes stepping up and discovering a passion for multisport.” 

Darfield School Principal Andy England said the school has had teams in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast since 2021, but this is the first time they will have the support of the Kathmandu Academy. 

“We’re absolutely rapt at the opportunities that come with this sponsorship, and we’re excited to see the potential impact of the support and coaching from the Kathmandu Academy on our young athletes,” England said.   

“This is a great opportunity to learn from the best in the sport. We really appreciate the support around supplying gear because we’re not a school that’s flush with money to throw at these kinds of things. It will make a huge difference for our current and future students to be able to use that high-quality gear.”