Thousands to paddle, pedal and pound the pavement at the 2016 Schools Triathlon Challenge

ABOUT 3000 primary school students will hit the water, bike and track today for the second day of the Schools Triathlon Challenge at Bellerive.

Grade 7 girls take off in the individual event at the Triathlon Schools Challenge at Bellerive. Pictures: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

ALMOST 900 Year 7-12 students have kicked off the first day of the Schools Triathlon Challenge at Bellerive.

About 3000 primary school students will hit the water, bike and track on Friday for the second day of the swim, bike and run program.

GALLERY: SCHOOLS TRIATHLON - SECONDARY STUDENTS

Event director Tim Smith said the event was more relaxed than some other inter-school sporting competitions.

“It’s more about getting out and doing something and being active and enjoying doing it,” he said.

“Those kids who aren’t making school teams for inter-school carnivals can do this ... it’s not completely focused on competition. There’s no pressure to perform for a result.”

Lachlan Steelen of Sacred Heart College in the Boys Grade 9 individual event.

Statewide, 5400 students have registered to take part in this year’s events, compared with 1860 registrations when the event started in Hobart nine years ago.

Boys in the Grade 8 individual event.

“There’s a really high percentage of kids coming back and quite a few new ones as well,” Mr Smith said.

The Triathlon Schools Challenge is also working with Diabetes Tasmania to help raise funds for families of young people diagnosed with diabetes.

Mr Smith said almost $7000 had been raised this year to help the families afford camps designed to help young people manage their diabetes.

Today’s events are for students from Years 3-6.

Originally published as Thousands to paddle, pedal and pound the pavement at the 2016 Schools Triathlon Challenge