Triathletes triumph at national school champs

TWO of the region’s top junior triathletes who helped their state to a spot on the podium at this year’s National Schools Triathlon Championship in Devonport, Tasmania last month are excited for what is next.

Torquay-based triathletes Otis Jones and Jacob McKie both qualified to represent Victoria in the School Sports Victoria team for Triathlon in a team of 51 competitors.

Following two days of action, Victoria would place third overall against every state in the nation.

Christian College Geelong student McKie formed part of Victoria’s Mixed All Ages Relay team that placed second featuring two senior male triathletes, a female 15-16-year-old triathlete, and a junior female triathlete aged 13-14.

“Being third in the team order, my objective was just to set up our final leg as best as I could, particularly because the team and I knew Queensland had a really strong final leg as well,” McKie said.

“It was awesome to be a part of it though. As soon as I was tagged, I was in a world of my own, especially during the swim.

“You have everyone yelling at you and cheering you on from a number of different states.

“Once you get down that home stretch and get sense of achievement when you finish, it’s pretty amazing.”

Each triathlon leg features 300m swim, 5km ride and a 3km run.

Jones, a St Joseph’s Geelong student, took home Victoria’s first gold medal as part of a Mixed Relay and third in the Individual Triathlon. It was the state’s first gold medal in the new revised format of racing, which requires all athletes to do a triathlon each, as opposed to just a single leg of a triathlon.

He competed alongside one other male and two females competitors.

“In our final leg Vegas Andrews got caught on the bike, so we just prayed she finished strong,” Jones said. “Once she gapped one of the Queenslanders, we saw her reach the final stretch and we all ran with her yelling and screaming all the way to the end. It was a really good feeling to get that first gold medal.

“I’m naturally an energetic person, which is why I started doing triathlon about three years ago. It also keeps me fit during the offseason for footy as well, so it ticks a lot of boxes for me personally.”

Next for the pair is the final event of the National Triathlon Series in Adelaide on April 18.