Triathlon: Proud Kiwi teen steps up

WORLD STAGE: Maunu's James Edwards will compete tomorrow morning (NZ time) in his first international triathlon event, the ITU World Series grand final.PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

James Edwards of Maunu may say he has struggled with time management, but the Whangarei Boys' High School head boy isn't doing too badly.

Edwards has been selected in the New Zealand Triathlon team to compete in Edmonton, Canada, for the grand final of the ITU World Series tomorrow.

But, balancing study, sport, and life will be the last thing on the well-spoken teenager's mind when he starts racing tomorrow morning, instead choosing to absorb all he can from the event.

Edwards, who is coached by Northland and New Zealand legend Sam Warriner - told the Advocate before leaving last weekend he simply wanted to experience it all.

"[I'm looking forward to] the experience of representing my country, and going internationally, but also the experience of the New Zealand team and just being a team member, seeing how it is internationally," he said.

"I've definitely seen the jump from Northland to New Zealand nationals level so I also want to see the jump up from national up to international."

The jump from Northland to national level is what got Edwards to Canada, after finishing fifth and qualifying at the Kinloch OTU Sprint Triathlon in February.

Helping Edwards make the jump to international has been coach Warriner, often acting as a training partner as well.

Edwards says it has been an interesting transition, going from thinking of his coach as a Northland legend to his mentor.

"At first it was strange having her coach me, but now I look at her as a coach and not a Northland and New Zealand legend. She's really good. Since she's done the sport before she understands what I'm feeling and she still enjoys competing in the sport," Edwards said, adding that he got into triathlon after competing in the Allens Kids Triathlon and being picked up by Warriner from a have-a-go-day type event.

"Instead of standing there yelling at me from the side of the pool she'll get in and does the set with me, or the run set, and sets the pace sometimes.

"She's definitely great motivation, and her determination, I find, rubs off on to me."

Joining Edwards at his first international event will be mum Kelly, much to the relief of Edwards. Having a familiar face on the sidelines would make a difference for him, saying it would be nice to know he has a fan in Canada.

Kelly said it would be a bit of a coming of age for her son, who had kept her travelling around New Zealand for the last few years.

Also competing in the final series event would be fellow Whangarei triathletes Simone Ackermann and Nicky Samuels, racing in the elite category on Sunday (NZ time).

Yesterday Edwards had his first taste of international racing, finishing as the first Kiwi in fifth of the 16 to 19-year-olds at the Aquathon World Championships - which serves as a warm-up event for tomorrow's main event.