Recently turned triathlete excels in All Schools State Championships

The year 7 Oxley College student won the U15 NSW All Schools Triathlon Championship in Penrith on Wednesday, February 21 against a field of 60 of the best swimmers, runners and bike riders in the state.

The race had a combined age group of 12, 13 and 14 year old girls, and Pixie won it as a 12 year old.

Pixie's father Luke Hanson said the achievement was incredible as she hadn't been doing the sport for long.

"She's in her first year and she won the state championship by beating girls a year older and a year more experienced than her," Hanson said.

"She started trained for triathlon in the past six month and while she was already running and swimming, she only started her bike riding skills in July."

That wasn't the only recent success for the Bowral resident.

She teamed up with two other girls from her school (Charlotte Holmes and Penny Brown) the following day and claimed bronze in the U15 NSW School Team Triathlon Championship.

Growing up on Lord Howe Island, Pixie's was already a talented sportswoman and Hanson said that was mainly due to her surroundings.

"She grew up on Lord Howe Island and kids there are pretty fit naturally as they all grow up outdoors and roam the hills," he said.

"She got into triathlon as she was a very good runner."

Pixie was planning for a big 2023, but had very few results due to sickness and an injury at the start of her competitive season.

"She missed most of last year because she sprained her ankle on a trampoline," Hanson said.

"She landed on a ball, had a grade three strain and pulled a bit of bone off."

Despite the disappointments, she bounced back with a scholarship to the Illawarra Academy of Sport in the Triathlon Program with former triathlon world champion and coach Ben Bell.

Pixie will be hoping for a massive 2024 when she turns her attention to the NSW team at the Australian All Schools Triathlon Championships in Rockingham, Western Australia on March 14 and 15.

She will then compete at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Queensland on April 13.