In terms of triathlon, Orange’s Lauren Kerwick and Connor Whiteley fit the bill.

Both have become synonymous with the multisport in Orange and continued to prove their respective ceilings are lofty with stellar performances at last week’s NSW All Schools Triathlon.

Kerwick, representing Orange High School, won the female intermediate (600m swim, 15km cycle, 4km run) event, while Whiteley, representing Kinross Wolaroi School, finished third in the corresponding male race. 

Both qualified to represent NSW at April’s School Sport Australia Triathlon Championships for the third consecutive year as a result.

“They’re two of the hardest working athletes I’ve ever seen, so it’s great that all that work is paying off,” Mel Ashton-Garard, who coaches both triathletes, said.

“I think the intermediate races were the most competitive of the day, and these two are just improving all the time. They both raced very well.

“All the kids from the NSW Performance and Development Squads competed, and seeing these two perform against those guys is particularly pleasing.”

Kerwick clocked 49 minutes 51 seconds in the victory, after making up a 17-second deficit.

The 15-year-old came out of the swim leg (8.40) second, before taking the lead around five kilometres into the cycle leg, in which she clocked 25.36.

“She didn’t look back from there,” Ashton-Garard said, reflecting on Kerwick’s 15.35 run leg.

Whiteley came out of the swim leg (8.46) in seventh, and worked his way into the top three with strong cycle and run legs (23.53 and 14.10 respectively) to clock 46.50 overall.

Ashton-Garard said she was particularly impressed with Whiteley in comparison to eventual male winner Lorcon Redmond, of St Philip’s Christian College, who she described as “a freak”.

“For Connor to be able to keep up with Lorcon Redmond is very encouraging,” she said.

“If anyone can keep it touch with him, you can compete anywhere. He’s improving all the time.”

Whiteley was also a part of the Kinross Wolaroi School team which won gold in the teams event, in which Ashton-Garard said he “ran a blinder”.

The pair will head to School Sport Australia Triathlon Championships at Penrith International Regatta Centre in April.