South Auckland's Weet-Bix TRYathlon: Valerie Adams hands out medals to hundreds of kids

Valerie Adams awarded medals to hundreds of kids who swam, cycled and ran the South Auckland Weet-Bix Kids' TRYathlon today.

The four-time world champion, along with Black Fern Portia Woodman and Ironman Cameron Brown, congratulated participants at the triathlon's finish line at Manurewa's Mountfort Park.

Adams said the TRYathlon was an "awesome" opportunity for children to give sport a go at their own pace.

The race began at 10am.

Today's South Auckland event was the one 16 TRYathlons in the series, which runs from December 4, 2016 to April 2, 2017.

Every year thousands of Kiwi kids aged 7 to 15 participate. The TRYathlon celebrated its 25th birthday this year, with a record number of entries.

Last year 28,000 kids competed in the series. Organisers expected the number of entries to increase by 42 per cent this year.

The next race will be held at Mt Maunganui on December 18.

Two other TRYathlons will be held in Auckland later in the summer, one at Pt England Reserve and another in Whangaparaoa. Registrations are still open for these events.

More information is available on the TRYathlon's website.