Will Blackaby and Ethan Stretton will be joined by the latter’s brother Blake as the North’s three representatives at the Penrith event, with another five Tasmanians set to take part across individual and team events.

While 12-year-old Blake was happy to keep the lid on expectations ahead of his first all-schools race, Ethan had high hopes after his success in the Australian Junior Triathlon Series. 

“I’m going into this race with a heap of confidence and I just want to cap off a great season with a great race,” the 16-year-old said.

“I’ll hold myself to a podium finish I hope - just a real hard run off the bike to do as well as I can but I’m looking for a win, that’d be really great.”

The Strettons’ St Patrick’s College schoolmate Blackaby will be competing in his final all-schools event ahead of turning 18 in May.

Thursday’s individual race and Friday’s teams event come as the young gun’s final two hitouts for the season, save for the the Icebreaker and Freycinet challenges over winter.

“I’m excited at the moment but I’m sure when I get up there I’ll start to feel a lot more nervous,” Blackaby said. 

“I’ve raced in this the last two years and I think the first year I raced I was top 20 and the second I was top 15, so hopefully I can go top 10 this year.

“I think I’ve improved over all three legs since last season so hopefully it works quite well.”