He took on sprint distances on his own at Warrnambool Tri Club events last season.

Now he wants to tackle the full distances.

The 14-year-old is starting with the club's Albert Park Virtual Duathlon featuring a 3-kilometre run, 9km bike ride and 1.5km run.

He's been working hard during the off-season going for 3km and 5km runs as well as rides on the Wangoom Training Circuit.

The King's College year nine student said he loved the challenge triathlon offered.

"It's really hard, mentally and physically," he said.

"It's a solo race with three legs which I'm good at.

"It's long distance as well and I like that."

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Riley has been taking opportunities to push himself including racing in the under 16s in race four of the Victorian Triathlon Series in February.

The event based at Elwood was his first major race.

He said he would like to do more events in that series in the future.

The youngster first got involved in triathlon thanks to his dad, Ben.

"Dad used to run triathlons and I would always do the kids events," he said.

Riley said he and Ben now had a fun rivalry going in the adult events.

The youngster wants to bring his 5km run time down under 20 minutes.

He also wants to improve his swimming over longer distances.

The talented teenager has tried many sports including Little Athletics and three years with Warrnambool Swimming Club squad.

He still rides with Port Fairy Cycling Club, a group he has been racing with for the past two years.

Riley said he enjoyed the variety of triathlon.

"I just wanted to do all three (disciplines) instead of doing every single one on its own," he said.

He has kept up soccer and has played for Warrnambool Wolves for the past two years in the South West Victorian Football Association.

A surf once a week has also been an outlet for him this year during the coronavirus pandemic.

The WTC's virtual duathlon finishes on Sunday.

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