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Triathlon sisters ready for world stage

Jaz, left, and Kira Hedgeland, ready for the world stage. Picture: Michael O'Brien/The West Australian

Look out Brownlee brothers, here come the Hedgelands.

Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee and brother Jonathan have dominated the international circuit for years, but their mantle as the sport's greatest siblings could be in danger if Willetton's Jaz and Kira Hedgeland have anything to say about it.

Jaz, 18, and Kira, 16, were yesterday named in the Australian junior team for the ITU World Triathlon Championships in Canada in August.

It is the first time in nearly 20 years sisters have been selected in a national triathlon team.

Queenslander Sophie Malowiecki rounds out the junior women's squad, with another Queenslander, Brittany Dutton, the travelling reserve and WA's Mikala Falconer the non-travelling emergency.

The Hedgeland sisters have cemented their status as Australia's next big things with a series of top results this year.

They had 1-2 finishes at both the national and Oceania youth championships, with Jaz capturing gold and Kira taking silver.

After a fourth-placed finish in last year's junior world championships, Jaz said she had only one aim at this year's event. "My goal is to win gold," she said.

The two sisters were introduced to triathlon when Jaz, then eight, watched the event during the Athens Olympics.

Her parents signed her up to the local club and sister Kira followed once she was old enough.

Jaz said training and racing alongside her sister had been a massive advantage.

"I think we have a little something special happening with the two of us doing it and racing against each other," she said.

"I have training with her most days so I kind of know her strengths and weaknesses, but she definitely pushes me along."

Kira says she's looking forward to the day she can finally beat her big sister. "That would be nice. I think once at a local race I did beat her out of the water, but then she just caught me," she said.