A NAMBOUR Christian College student competing in only his second aquathon has made the state team to compete at the national titles next month.

Millan Power finished 9th out of 135 competitors in the Queensland School Sports Aquathon at Hervey Bay last weekend, earning one of the 16 state representative positions.

The achievement is impressive considering Power does not train specifically for aquathon but his weekly sporting routine seems to be training enough.

The 12-year-old swims, and does cross country, little athletics and water polo.

“He’s a very sporty kid,” his mum, Alana Gread- Power said.

“If he’s not at the pool, he’s at the track or riding his bike around the farm,” she said.

Power is not yet leaning towards any sport.

“I just like all of them. I just like being out there with my friends,” Power said.

His goals this year are to compete at national level and break a few records in swimming and athletics.

He has long jump, triple jump, the 1500 metres and 800 metres in his sights on land, and he is looking for 50 and 100 metres butterfly and breaststroke records in the pool.

He trains twice a week
at the University of the Sunshine Coast under track coach Bryce Phillips and four times a week at Cotton Tree Pool under coach Janette Pallister.

Power is proud of recently swimming a personal best of about 31 seconds in the 50 metre freestyle but his success in aquathon – a 1km run, followed by a 200m swim and another 1km run - has surprised him.

“I really wanted to go to the nationals and I didn’t think I’d be that good. It was very tough, especially the 1km run at the end.”

Ms Gread-Power said her took his sporting success in his stride.

“He swims against people are the best in the state and the country but to him, these are just his mates,” she said.

If Power continues with aquathon, he will graduate to triathlon at the end of this year.

Mrs Power and her husband, who both teach at NCC, are supportive of their son’s sporting activities but say it is all up to him.

“He’s just that kind of kid that he wants to have a go at everything. We just want him to have an active life and enjoy himself.”

Mind you, if he slackens off, his younger brother, Marcello, 8, is waiting in in the wings, already recording some times faster than his older brother.

The boys’ sister, Madonna, 4, is yet to indicate her sporting interests.