Triathlon: Tauranga's Olivia Cummings wins third consecutive national title

Tauranga's Olivia Cummings is a self-confessed competitive person who is achieving plenty of success. Photo / George Novak

Keeping up with people better than her is what Tauranga triathlete Olivia Cummings strives for.

The 16-year-old Ōtūmoetai College student won the under-19 title at the New Zealand Schools Triathlon Championships in New Plymouth on March 29 – her third consecutive national schools title, after winning back-to-back under-16 crowns.

She was one of four Western Bay of Plenty students who took podium placings at the competition, with Pāpāmoa College's Talitha McEwan securing first place in the under-14 race.

Olivia finished the race in 55 minutes and nine seconds, more than a minute ahead of second-placed Natalya Carter.

Olivia comes from a swimming background and admits she is a competitive person.

"I love racing and training and I don't like losing," Cummings says.

"It was great to win that title, and you are always trying to keep up with people better than you. I am now coming into cross-country season, so will focus on that for a while. I will also do a bit more cycle racing to improve on that."

Olivia will run the 3000m event at this weekend's North Island Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships in Tauranga, where she will work on her speed.

"Triathlon is going towards team relay so it is shorter distances. I will be trying to go sub-10 minute run this weekend."

Olivia is also a reserve for the New Zealand junior team for September's ITU World Triathlon Championships in Switzerland.

She says New Zealand may earn another spot at the event, which may open the door for her to compete.

Olivia was 36th in the under-19 age group at the world championships last year, where she was the youngest competitor.

Olivia said she would not be where she is today without her coach Craig Kirkwood.

She says they both realise it will take a lot of smaller goals to work her way up and she hopes to one day represent New Zealand as an Olympian.

Kirkwood says he has coached Olivia for four years and her win at the New Zealand Secondary School Triathlon Championships is significant.

"There were some really good athletes in that age group. She is very gifted athletically, but also pretty stubborn, she always wants to compete."

Kirkwood says it is important to develop Olivia at the right pace.

"The whole time, we have been nursing her development slowly. It would be easy to just chuck lots of mileage her, but we want to keep the development slow and improve those skills without getting carried away. Hopefully that sees her rise into the senior ranks.

There are lots of athletes who have been before her who are as talented but have not achieved anything beyond their school years. The goal is for her to not be that athlete."

Bay of Plenty results:

U12 Individual:

Benjamin Hulbert (Tauranga Intermediate): 1st male;

Sophie Webber (Taupō Intermediate): 2nd female.

U14 Individual:

Talitha McEwan (Pāpāmoa College: 1st female.

U16 Individual:

Ivan Abele (Taupō-nui-a-tia College): 2nd.

U19 Individual:

Olivia Cummings (Ōtūmoetai College): 1st female; Jade Stafford (Ōtūmoetai College): 3rd male.