Triathletes go national

By Gavin Staindl
FOUR local students have been selected to represent Victoria at the national triathlon school titles in Brisbane.
St Margaret’s Jessica Cox, Brentwood’s Nick Thomas, Berwick Secondary’s Renton Lewis and Kambrya College’s Melanie Hunter were all told of their selection for the Triathlon School Sport Victoria state team two weeks ago after a qualification process that began in November.
The four juniors beat off hundreds of other hopefuls through a series of three qualifying races to qualify for the titles to be held late next month.
Although the four students are from different schools they all train under the watchful eye of Nick Conway, head coach of the Casey-Cardinia triathlon squad.
“It (the squad) is a great community with good values … but it is all about the athletes,” Conway said.
“They are just phenomenal athletes,” he said.
Hunter, 16, will compete in her third national title but it will be the first time the Year 9 student will race in the girls intermediate category designed for students in Years 9 and 10.
Renton Lewis will compete in the boys’ intermediate category.
The 16-year-old is one of five riders, including Hunter, who have been picked up by the Triathlon Identification Program as a potential successful racer.
Nick Thomas, 14, began racing in triathlons only four months ago but has quickly risen up the ranks, qualify-ing for the junior boys category for boys in Years 7 and 8.
Also racing in the junior category is 14-year-old Jessica Cox, who will be one of the hot favourites to take out the junior girls category after winning two of the three qualifying races.
“They deserve to make the team … It is a credit to how hard they train and what they sacrifice,” Conway said.