Given what Sienna Whalan produced in Sunday's women's only triathlon the answer to that question could very well be yes.

While Whalan is best known as a star swimmer - having represented Bathurst at a national level - and is a more than handy runner, the talented teen had never attempted a triathlon before Sunday.

That she finished third across the line and third outright, her debut was most certainly impressive.

For Whalan it was about a challenge and trying something new and while her first words after crossing the line were 'that was hard', it was an experience she enjoyed.

"I died during that, but it was so fun though," she said.

"It was great to have the support, there were so many people around and it was a great environment to be in as well."

Like many of the newcomers on Sunday, Whalan had previously been interested in triathlon but not taken the step to sign up for one until she learned about the women's only race.

"I'd always been sort of keen to give it a go but never got around to it, but then I saw this race was available and Mum said I should give it a go. I got straight into it, I was like absolutely," she said.

"Normally I swim and I run a bit and I started riding in lockdown, but I'd never put them together. It was so different putting them together, I thought it would feel a bit similar to what I'd done before, but it really wasn't. It was a surprise

"I don't go too bad on a bike, I've never been big on it, but I thought I'd give it a go."

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Whalan set off in the first wave on Sunday, her first assignment a 200 metres swim. She was first to hit the water and first to climb out of the pool with her split of 2:52 standing as the fastest of any competitor on the day.

Though the 16km cycle leg proved tougher, Whalan still managed the eight fastest split of 32:28, then she brought it home with a 12:05 effort in the 2.5km run - that the third quickest in the field.

When put together it ranked Whalan third overall in a time of 49:01, with only the more experienced Jen Arnold (46:32) and Hollee Simons (46:50) bettering her mark.

"The 16 kay bike leg killed me after the swim, I didn't expect it to feel like that. I'd done the track before, but after the swim you're already dead and then there's the wind," she said.

"The legs felt like jelly into the run, they were unless. But we got there in the end, they got better midway through, I was so tired though. I had someone [club escort] run right next to me at the end which encouraged me.

"Absolutely I'm going to be back for another one. I am so keen to get back to this, it was really fun, I really enjoyed it and it's something I want to do again."

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