By Ben Triandafillou
FRANKSTON High School student Winston Kenyon has been selected for the School Sport Australia Triathlon Championships which will be held at Penrith, New South Wales from 18-21 April.
Winston will be joining students from across the state in the School Sport Victoria State Team following a selection process which started in November last year.
With three events this season being SSV selection races, the competitor’s two best places were used to select a team of six athletes for the 12-13 years age group.
Winston trains locally at a variety of clubs, such as the Mornington Peninsula Triathlon Club, the Mornington Peninsula Athletics Club and Team Barefoot, as well as training independently four to seven days a week.
A keen surfer, competitive swimmer and strong cyclist, Winston chose to combine his talents and began participating in triathlons last year.
“I took part in my first competitive event about a year ago in Mordialloc and came seventh. Most of the competitors were a year older than me and that’s when I thought I might be able to make the top three if I train for the season,” Kenyon said.
Before heading to New South Wales for the Championships, Winston will be competing in the final event of the ActiveTRI Series at Peter Scullin Reserve, Mordialloc on 19 March.
Finishing second twice throughout the series with one race remaining, Winston is hoping to go one better and come out on top.
“I knew that I had to improve my run back in November. Since then, I have been focusing on technique and it has gradually worked. I’m hoping it’s enough to make the difference in Mordialloc.”
Winston will be joined by several other local students with Tristan Price, Parkdale Secondary College, Jackson Streader and Molly Wallace, Peninsula Grammar competing in the 13-14 age group.
Oscar Riley, Peninsula Grammar, Sam Bunnage and Ebony Francis, Haileybury College have been selected in the 15-16 age group with James Sampson and Lachie Watson, Peninsula Grammar, participating in the 17-19 age group.