James, who will turn 16 on Sunday, has made the School Sport Victoria 16 boys’ triathlon team.

The Brauer College student will compete at the School Sport Australia triathlon championships at Penrith in April.

James said he would be well prepared for the 500-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike ride and 5km run.

“Every week I am training 13 times a week, early in the mornings at 5am,” he said.

“I swim three times a week, ride about 170km and run about 60km.

“Weekends are a bit more of a sleep in — 7am on a Saturday.”

James is a member of the Warrnambool swimming and tri clubs.

He used to swim competitively but now uses the AquaZone-based club as a training tool for his triathlons.

“Swimming is my favourite and running my least favourite,” he said.

“But running is slowly getting up there. 

“I have been practicing for that in the past six months.

“Before I had a coach (Dave Huggett), I was doing it on my own and I didn’t like running that much.

“But the coach sent me a running program and I got better at it and started running with the triathlon groups.”

James praised Huggett, tri club member Travis Greening and swimming coach Jayson Lamb for their help in their respective fields.

He said he enjoyed the challenge of triathlons.

“I only seriously started doing it this season. It is my first big season,” he said.

“I am in the triathlon Victoria development squad, so they try and set you pathways to get to the elite level.”

James has entered the Warrnambool Tri Club’s foreshore triathlon and will compete in the junior section on Sunday.

The SSV triathlon team consists of 36 athletes across six divisions — girls’ 14, 16 and 19 and boys’ 14, 16 and 19 age groups. Students were selected following a series of Triathlon Victoria-run events.

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au