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More than 1000 children are giving the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids Tryathlon a go today.

Finn Woodhouse, 9 and Mikaia Penne, 9. Photos by: Daniel Hines.

A total 1202 children and teenagers are participating in the annual event which sees Tauranga entrants run and cycle around Memorial Park followed by a short swim in the nearby outdoor 25 metre pool on Sunday.

Despite numbers not reaching last year's 1438 participants, spokesperson Carol O'Brien is pleased with today's event.

'It's been a great event here today. The weather's been good and it's just been superb.

'They [numbers] are slightly down on previous years,” says Carol, who reckons the slight decrease in Tauranga entrants is due to a mid-week event in Rotorua which was introduced to the series this year.

Ash Harley, 12 Claire Abbott, 12 Caitlin Abbot,10 and Lia Chalmers,10.

Waiting at the finish line are Olympians and world champion cyclists Alison Shanks, BMX rider Sarah Walker, New Zealand cross triathlon champion Olly Shaw and All Blacks player Liam Messam, who are awarding Weet-Bix Kids triathletes with a medal.

Carol says every entrant who finishes the triathlon, regardless of placing or time, receives a medal.

'It's just about kids giving it a go. There's no time or anything like that…the whole event is aimed at just getting kids out and just giving it a go.”

Liam Diggelmann, 11 and Jaymee Diggelmann,16.

Anaaya Gould, 8, and Brooke Harris, 8.

Grace O'Neill, 11 Renae Fenton,11 and Breanna Gaffaney, 11.