Albury's Laura Gillard to contest national triathlon championships in Tasmania

During a recent Albury-Wodonga Triathlon Club Enduro event, 18-year-old Laura was the fastest female, 16-year-old Jonathon the first junior male, and their dad, Damian, the first male overall to cross the finish line.

Laura admitted it's a family affair when it comes to the sport.

"Dad used to do triathlons when we were really little and then he had a break, so we didn't really know much about them until six years ago," she said.

Laura is now preparing to compete at the National Triathlon Championships in Tasmania this month.

The event in Devonport on February 27 and 28 will see her contest an individual race before representing NSW in the youth teams event.

Laura qualified for the state mixed relay team after impressing during a race held in Orange.

"Everyone swims, bikes and runs and then tags the next person," she said.

ALSO IN SPORT:

"I've never competed in anything like it before, so I'm very excited."

The keen triathlete, who is coached by Fabrizio Andreoni, is also currently leading the junior 2XU race series in Melbourne after two rounds, with round three scheduled for this weekend.

She hopes to see how far she can push herself in the sport.

"I'd like to see how far I can go with it, but I guess in the national race I'll see where I'm at compared to everyone else," Laura said.

"I absolutely love the sport."

She admitted a lot of work goes into getting ready for a race

"I do speed work at the track on Tuesdays, usually another speed session, and then I do three or four rides and four swims a week," she said.

The Gillard siblings both agree running is their favourite of the three disciplines.

Jonathon is currently training for the Buffalo Stampede Festival in Bright in April, while also completing year 11 at Albury High School.

Laura currently works as a swimming instructor and plans to study physiotherapy at Albury's Charles Sturt University next year.

Both also play soccer for Albury Hotspurs.