Caitlin Kirk’s entry in Saturday’s Tri NZ Suzuki Series Aquathlon Championships doesn’t automatically stand out above and beyond anyone else on the start lists, save, of course, for her hard-earned status as a silver medallist in the 16-19 age group at last year’s World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Spain.
But then you discover the soon to be 18-year-old is not racing in her age appropriate category at the Seven Oaks Kinloch Triathlon Festival showcase, opting instead to line up in the open grade. Hmmm. This warrants a bit of detective work.
A 1km swim, 5km run at 4:30pm. Nothing too crazy about it. Until you learn the Waipukurau whippet will also be racing the women’s 3000m steeplechase at athletics’ fabled Porrit Classic…155km away in Hamilton. On the same day.
Now racing the open category in Kinloch, the last race off on Saturday, makes more sense. Kirk’s need for speed is built around a wild schedule where every minute counts. On the track in the Tron, on State High 1 and in Lake Taupo and immediate surrounds.
The Central Hawke’s Bay teen is eyeing selection for August’s World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon so will be uber focused on the 11.48am 3000m in Hamilton.
Then dad David will scoot her back down State Highway 1 to Kinloch where, all being equal, Caitlin estimates she’ll have 30 minutes to don her wetsuit and get her head in the game for the open aquathlon.
Waiting in Taupo will be mum Kiri and brother Lachie, a national title and world championship credentialed NZ trampoline rep.
Lachie won’t be waiting on the sidelines to cheer on his little sis though. He watched Caitlin qualify for Pontevedra at Kinloch last year and though, I could do that. Tomorrow, he hopes to prove it in the 20-24 age group.
Courtesy of her silver medal in Pontevedra, Caitlin’s already qualified for the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Worlds in Abu Dhabi so is racing to and in Kinloch tomorrow for practice. But this is one seriously competitive family so don’t be surprised if she stands out in the final open race standings, nor if Lachie punches his ticket to the UAE in November either.
Like Father, Like Son
Just like the Kirk family story, there’s a healthy dose of FOMO running in the Jordan household too. Father Bruce Jordan is a Team NZL regular in the PTS5 category and his para feats around the world have prompted eldest son Arlo Jordan to give qualification for Abu Dhabi a crack.
Arlo will be competing in the 20-24 age group alongside Lachie Kirk so watch for that.
Part of the Family
Sunday’s Aquabike isn’t a Tri NZ Suzuki Series Championship and Keira McVitty is a proud Brit so can’t qualify for Team NZL in what is an official qualifier for September’s World Triathlon Age Group Championships in Pontevedra. So why is she on SBR-Tri.com’s radar?
Turns out the former pro cyclist is the partner of T100 star Kyle Smith who gives back to Tri-Sport Taupo, the organisers of the Kinloch Festival, whenever he’s home. Which makes McVitty part of the Taupo tri family and an adopted Kiwi thus.
McVitty is on the comeback trail from significant hip surgery. She’s also a wicked content creator and is charting her comeback via her 50k+ sub Instagram account and excellent YouTube channel. You should 100 percent check those out and give her a hearty cheer as she whizzes by on Sunday.
Stay tuned to Tri NZ’s socials – @Triathlonnz – across the weekend for more coverage from Kinloch.
