Amelia Kinnard will become the third St Hildas Collegiate School multisporter in 10 years to represent her country when she competes at the world championships on Australia's Gold Coast next week.

Ex-pupil Sarah Bryant won a string of national and national secondary school titles in both triathlon and duathlon, and went on to win the silver medal in junior elite competition at the world triathlon in Madeira, Spain, in 2004.

Another St Hildas old-girl, Rebecca Grant, won back-to-back national secondary school titles in both triathlon and duathlon, and gained national representation at the world duathlon championships in Australia in 2005.

Grant has been to two world championships, with a best result of fourth in Hamburg, Germany, in 2007.

Grant (20), now studying at the University of Otago, qualified for her third world triathlon championships when she finished second in the 20-24 age group at the national championships earlier this year, recording an impressive 2hr 14min 54sec on the gruelling Wellington Olympic-standard course comprising a 1500m swim, a 40km bike and a 10km run.

Stepping up to Olympic distances now because of her age and a desire to compete in elite class has only served to inspire Grant.

The only fear is the unknown as she looks to the ITU Gold Coast event next week.

"You just don't know who's in the field," she said.

"It's my first time in this age group. I know Australia has some very good triathletes, but we don't know who will be there from Europe."

It is now Kinnard's turn to feature on the national and international triathlon scene.

The year 12 pupil (17), first experienced triathlon through the Weetbix series as a 13-year-old.

While she is also a keen rower - for Dunedin's North End club - triathlon took centre stage early last year.

"I was feeling a little disappointed with what I was achieving with rowing," she said.

"Triathlon just felt way better. I was getting better results. And it just fell into place with the encouragement and environment of multisport."

Kinnard placed sixth in the national secondary schools road championships late last year to help the school win the gold medal in the teams section.

Over the past 12 months she has finished seventh at the national secondary schools triathlon, third in national secondary schools duathlon and second in the South Island secondary schools triathlon in Oamaru.

It has been a tough introduction to top-level triathlons for Kinnard.

She competed in the elite women's series in Wanaka in January, only to incur time penalties because of technicalities during racing.

This showed Kinnard what to expect in international competition.

She is keen to perform well in Australia, and feels it is pay-back time for all the training she has done.

"It's been six months of non-stop work," she said, referring to her preparation.

"I'm not going there to disappoint or to let anyone down, especially my parents, because of all the fundraising they've done."

Kinnard has the advantage of travelling with Grant, who will be contesting the 20-24 age group, and coach Lindsay Dey, who will be contesting the men's 60-64 section.

Dey praised the two internationals and swimming coach Tim Brazier.

"Tim's done a magnificent job in their build-up," he said.

"Both these girls are unbelievable kids, I can tell you. Both are not only talented athletes, but extremely academic."

Both Dey and Grant will compete on the Olympic-standard course, while the junior grades, including Kinnard's, will contest the sprint-distance course comprising a 750m swim, a 20km bike and a 5km run.

Dey will be competing in his sixth world championship event.

He finished 13th in his age group in Italy last year.

The world championships, involving more than 6000 athletes from 42 countries, begin next Wednesday and finish on Sunday, September 13.