Walsgott, 13, represented Victoria for the first time at the School Sport Australia Triathlon Championships in Penrith on Thursday and Friday.

Further north, Hopper, 14, was racing in her second consecutive Swimming Australia National Age Championships on Wednesday in Brisbane.

THE championships were described as a great learning experience by Ella’s mother Katie.

As was to be expected, there was a few nerves heading into day one of racing but Katie said Ella still tried here hardest.

“There was a lot of nerves before the first race but she did well,” she said.

“Her swim leg and running leg were good but she still needs to work on her cycling a bit more.”

It is something Ella knows she has to work on improving.

“Before I started doing triathlons I was already doing a lot of running and swimming,” she said.

“The bike was the only thing I needed to pick up.”

After competing individually on Thursday, Friday was a chance to compete in relays.

Katie said Ella looked much more settled during the second day.

“She had gotten the nerves out of the system and seemed to enjoy it more,” she said.

“If she is good enough to get there again next year she will be all the better for it.”

As a bottom age competitor in the 13-14-year-old girls category Ella finished 29^th in the country.

The championships were dominated by strong Queensland competitors with Victoria coming in fourth on the overall points standings.

Ella said she enjoyed the championships and would love to get the opportunity again.

“I really enjoy the racing and competing,” she said.

“I would really like to thank my coaches and my parents for helping me get this far.”

The team environment also provided Ella the opportunity to learn from other athletes who go through similar training routines to hers.

“There is not a lot of people in Horsham who she can talk to about what she does,” Katie said.

“It was great for her to be with like-minded athletes for a few days.”

Former Olympic triathletes also spoke to the teams on Wednesday giving Ella some insight into just how much hard work is required to get to the top level.

IN HER second national championships Miette Hopper fought hard in the 100 metre 14-year-old-girls breaststroke event despite carrying an injury.

Hopper’s preliminary time on Wednesday bettered her qualifying time but nearly half a second but it was not good enough to see here through to the finals. The time of 1.18.22 placed her 31^st in the country after 67 swimmers qualified for the event.

Miette injured her knee two weeks out from the championships as she upped her training workload. Her mum Nerissa said prior to the championships the injury would not hold Miette back. “She will still go out there and she will still compete,” she said. “It is just something she has to deal with.”