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TRIATHLON

Don't try and tell Sam Osborne to take things slowly.

The slow approach just does not appear to be on the Rotorua 18-year-old's agenda.

Seven days ago, the former Western Heights High School student was an aspiring triathlete dreaming of national glory, a university student in waiting, who couldn't really cook for himself.

Now he's a national champion triathlete, qualified for September's world championships in Budapest, and a week-old "scarfie" living in a Dunedin flat while studying surveying at Otago.

"I learned how to make my own pizza one night this week," says Osborne who flats with some fellow triathletes away from the social distractions of university life.

"I'm trying to stay focused. [The flat's] just a few minutes from the running trails and a five-minute bike to the [swimming] pools."

Osborne is now part of the Otago Tri Academy and will race in the local Otago Triathlon Championships next weekend in Dunedin.

The deep South seems like a perfect next step environment for Osborne who decided to switch from serious duathlon to serious triathlon racing a couple of years ago.

"There's not too many opportunities in duathlon ... I think I made quite a good move and to come away with a national title is pretty wicked."

Osborne won that title last weekend in Wellington. Remarkably, the success came just months after Osborne returned to triathlon from a year's absence as he chose to just concentrate on his swimming with Rotorua swim coach Henk Gruepink.

His biking and running were already strong from his duathlon background and regular training with RATs triathletes and Lake City Athletic Club athletes.

The focused attention to the water has certainly helped as Osborne topped the Kiwi contenders in the under-19 elite National Championships, finishing second to Australian Michael Gossman but taking the New Zealand title from fifth-placed Aaron Barclay.

More importantly the race was a final selection for the 2010 World Championships with a place on offer for Budapest if Osborne was fast enough.

"I had to be the top New Zealander and finish in the top eight ... There was quite a bit of pressure really," he recalls.

"The race went really well. I had a shocking swim.

"Tactically I made a mistake. I started on the wrong side of the course and had nobody's feet to draft off," he recalls.

Osborne came out of the water in 18th place but quickly got into work on the bike where his past as a nationally-ranked mountainbiker helped.

"It was really windy and there was a big hill.

"The chase group got across on the hill and I killed the second transition and picked up about five seconds, which I held on the run."

Osborne finished the sprint distance triathlon in 1h 2m 12s and was grateful for the kindness of a Rotorua person, who wants to remain nameless, who helped him on his way.

"He gave me a brand new $500 Giro Pro Light helmet just before I went away."

It's estimated it will cost Osborne $10,000 to compete at the worlds later this year with the New Zealand team required to pay their own flights and food during the one-month trip which also takes in some other races.

"I'll have to look for sponsorship [for the worlds] with all the training and study there's not too many part-time jobs that can give you the flexibility to race and train."