It’s late August, the domestic triathlon season is nearing its end, and Edinburgh’s Will Johnston expects to finish the Britain’s Youth Series in first or second place. 

In April's British Elite Duathlon Championships he finished second, by just 0.03 seconds. In June he won the Blenheim Triathlon then a few weeks later won the Scottish Youth Championship title, a result that confirmed his place in this month's British Inter Regional Championships.

"Overall it's been a really good season so far," said Will.  "I've seen my times come down in swimming and running, I've matured generally and I feel more like an athlete. Before triathlon was something that I did, whereas now it's WHAT I do."

Originally a runner and swimmer, Will had never planned to become a triathlete when he entered his first multi sport race aged 12:  "I did an aquathon and there were a couple of guys in the race I knew who beat me.  So I did another one because I wanted to beat them and I did some training for that one and I beat them. 

"After that it just grew on me and I see triathlon as a natural progression.  It's not a sport you enjoy at the time but there's a great sense of achievement when you finish a race. And I'm a bit of an aerobic animal so I can keep going." 

 A member of the Scottish squad for two years, Will is coached in the pool by John McPhail at Portobello Swimming Club, does his running training with Edinburgh Triathletes, bike training with Edinburgh Road Club and his triathlon coaching under Triathlon Scotland's Performance Development Coach, Chris Volley.  Now in the post for 18 months, Chris has helped Will become a more focused athlete.

 "Will has a multitude of physical abilities which has been one of the challenges," he said.  "He was doing all sorts of things such as ski club racing and rugby.  So one aim was to channel all of his talents into triathlon.

"He's certainly grasped that and last September he made a conscious decision to make triathlon a high priority in his life. He put a huge amount of effort into training over the winter months and has stepped up and had a good season so far."

This year a greater emphasis has been placed on combining the three disciplines in training rather than preparing for them as separate entities. 

"At this stage we are trying to work on everything, there are always points I can improve on," said Will. "Transitions are key, especially running off a bike where some people suffer with jelly legs.  But Chris has started me on bike-runs and adding transitions to the training sessions to make it second nature. With practice you get used to it.

"Chris knows us all and is giving us great coaching. He runs camps every month or so with the help of Assistant Coach Blair Cartmell, and I can go up to Stirling whenever I want to see him. Coaching is a lot more accessible now."

Two other important factors have helped Will become a more successful athlete this season. 

 In March he was selected for the East of Scotland Institute of Sport, which as part of the Area Institute of Sport network, provides high performance expertise to Scotland's potential world class talent by giving access to essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.

"The Area Institutes have helped massively with our Development Programme athletes," said Chris Volley. 

 "The athletes have got professionals in their local areas who are passionate about sport and giving top level support. Bringing together other like-minded athletes from different sports, who are also looking for world class performance, has created a wonderful environment for everyone.

 "Strength and Conditioning support is a key area and a real added value within the system and Will has certainly utilised other services."

There is little doubt that Scottish triathlon has real depth, particularly in Youth and Junior age groups. Will is well matched with Fife's Cameron Milne and their friendly rivalry has helped their combined medal haul.  This season Cameron won the August's British Youth Championships amongst other titles.

"One of the aims with this age group is to inspire them and say 'you can be good, not just in Scotland but can be the best in Britain'," said Chris.  "Athletes like Cameron and Will have gone for it and are heading down that path.   Now the next aim is to get them thinking 'we can be the best in the world'. 

 "Once others can see that success is attainable, and they realise the guy they are training with in their squad is the best in the country at their age group, they will develop that belief too.  As a result we are starting to see other guys stepping up and wanting to be in that mix as well."

 The point isn't lost on Will whose younger sister, Kate, is already sharing in the family spoils. In August she made it a Johnston double by winning the Scottish 13/14s Championship title. 

 With the British Inter Regional Championships and a selection day for the GB squad still to come, the season is by no means over for Will, although when the season does end he will re-focus his efforts on moving up to the Junior level for 2010.

"Next year will be less pressure and more on learning and experience," he said.  "I’m hoping to do all the races I did this year at the next age group up. I won't be winning races next year because I'm three years younger than the top guys, but I'll be aiming for top five and competing in elite races as well."

RE-J
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