In a sport where momentum can shift in an instant, Jack Moody delivered a masterclass in resilience and racing instinct to claim his third title at Challenge Wanaka. What appeared to be a fading opportunity after the bike leg turned into a stunning showcase of half-marathon brilliance on home soil.
The day began without the headline favorites dictating terms in the water. Fellow New Zealanders Ivan Abele and Robert Huisman led the swim in 23:38, emerging with a slender advantage over the main contenders. Roughly a minute later, the expected protagonists – including Frederic Funk, Moody, and Mike Phillips – exited the lake alongside a tightly packed chase group featuring Dylan Clough and Tom Somerville.
On the bike, attention focused on the established names, but it was Abele who seized the initiative. Riding with authority across Wanaka’s breathtaking yet unforgiving terrain, he distanced Huisman and resisted the mounting pressure from behind. Funk and Phillips worked cohesively to reel in Moody and eventually absorb Huisman, while Abele maintained his advantage at the front.
By T2, Abele’s bold strategy had earned him a 1:46 minute lead over Phillips. Funk followed just over twenty seconds later in third, while Moody entered the transition in fourth – 3:39 adrift. At that moment, a third Wanaka victory for Moody looked improbable.
But then came the run.
What unfolded over the final half marathon was less a display of pacing and more an exhibition of controlled aggression. On a course known for its steep pinches and off-road stretches, Moody didn’t simply chip away at the deficit – he erased it with authority. Within kilometers he had bridged to Funk. Soon after, Phillips and Abele were reeled in, powerless as Moody surged past with what can only be described as championship intent.
With five kilometers remaining, Moody had transformed a near four-minute deficit into a lead of over a minute on Phillips and nearly 2:30 on Abele. The race was effectively decided. The punishing closing stretch became, if not comfortable, at least ceremonial – an earned procession toward a third triumph in Wanaka.
Moody won the race in 3:51:23. Phillips finished second in 3:54:11, while Funk, who surged into third place in the closing stages, crossed the line in 3:54:37.
