Now at the halfway point at Klondyke Corner for the night, within this inter-school battle, there are only 31 minutes between the first-place team The Wannabes from Wakatipu High School, second-placed team Christ’s College and third-placed team Greymouth High School.

Queenstown’s Wakatipu High School team is this year’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast Academy prize pack winner.

As part of the prize haul, Tom Schenk (run) Josh Watson (bike) and Pete Davis (kayak) won a Two-Day School Team entry, a kayak from Barracuda Kayaks for their school, a $1000 clothing pack from principal partner Kathmandu, and coaching sessions from Kathmandu Coast to Coast Ambassadors.

Kathmandu Coast to Coast’s Race Director Glen Currie said the Academy's primary goal of providing young people with knowledge and equipment to encourage them to participate in multisport activities, as well as the ability to complete the Kathmandu Coast to Coast event is validated when he sees a performance like today.

Greymouth High School is leading the female Three Person Team in a time of 7 hours, 33 minutes and 55 seconds.

In the mixed team division, Saint Kentigern College is leading in a time of 5 hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds, 30 minutes ahead of Waimea College in second and 44 minutes ahead of DHS in third.

“Making a multisport race like this available to all ages has been a top priority for many years, and it’s great to see it come to fruition. These youngsters performed so well today and are certainly giving competitors of all ages a run for their money,” says Currie.

Results Day 1

Three Person Male Team

Wakatipu High School - 05:37:53

Christs College - 06:03:18

Greymouth High School - 06:08:56

Three Person Female Team

Greymouth High School – 07:33:55

Three Person Mixed Team

Saint Kentigern College – 05:28:23

Waimea College – 05:59:16

DHS – 06:13:11