Jackson Langley and Oliver Hayward will be targeting spots at the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Pontevedra, Spain, in September, when they compete at the Americas Triathlon Championships Antofagasta in Chile today.

Langley and Hayward are part of the strong field of 58 competitors in the junior men in Antofagasta. They will be racing over a 750-metre swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

Langley is determined to finish in a good position to ensure Bermuda gets representation at the Junior World Championships.

“Depending on where Ollie and I finish on Saturday, the Bermuda Triathlon Association will be allowed to put a name forward for the Junior World Championships in Spain,” Langley told The Royal Gazette.

“I think that I have a good chance of placing well. This is a learning experience and it will be a super tough field with the best athletes from North and South America as well as the Caribbean, it’s going to take a lot to really do well.

Hayward, who was 43rd at the Europe Triathlon Junior Cup Quarteira in Portugal in March, is delighted to be back racing.

“I’m incredibly excited to be representing Bermuda once again and grateful for the opportunity to step onto the start line in Chile,” the 18-year-old said.

“My goal is to punch my ticket to the Junior World Championships, with the top 15 athletes earning qualification.

“Fortunately, this isn’t my final year as a junior, so there will always be another opportunity if it doesn’t happen on Saturday.

“I’m aiming to qualify this year and, hopefully, have the chance to compete at the Junior World Championships twice during my junior career.

“I’m also fortunate to be sharing the start line with Jackson Langley, someone I’ve raced against for as long as I can remember. While he’s a familiar competitor, he’s an even better friend.

“Hopefully, we can continue to push each other forward and feed off one another as we chase our goals in this incredibly competitive sport.”

Langley, who is heading off to University of Colorado Boulder next month, hopes the presence of Hayward can serve as inspiration to push himself in the race.

“There’s no rivalry between Ollie and I,” the 17-year-old said.

“I’ve known him for a very long time. He’s one of my best friends and the friends that you make through sport are obviously the most valuable.

“It’s good motivation though to have someone from Bermuda in the same race. That should push me to do better.

“It’s been good to catch up with him as well because he’s at school in the UK. It’s been great to get some true tune up with him ahead of the race

Hayward, who is also competing at the Americas Triathlon Cup Magog in Canada next week, had to balance between training and writing his final high school examinations in England.

“Getting to any start line is never a straight road and this one has been no different,” he said.

“Like any race, the preparation has had its highs and lows. Balancing exam pressure with training isn’t easy, but I’ve hopefully managed to find a balance that keeps both my parents and my growing sporting ambitions happy.”