A pair of undaunted local triathletes are aiming to impress some of the world's best in this weekend's ITU JAL Triathlon World Championships.

Kirsten Swanson and Kalen Darling also happen to be the youngest female and male competitors in the 2,000-person race.

Swanson, an 18-year-old ASSETS school senior, and Darling, a 17-year-old Moanalua senior, are ready to take on all-comers, and not just in the 19-under division.

On Sunday, they'll find out how they stack up.

"Well, I've been the youngest before," said Swanson, who's going to be in her 12th triathlon. "It's not anything new. The race is a challenge, period."

Said Darling: "(The race has) been on my mind constantly. All my friends think I'm crazy because I train like four hours a day and barely have time to do my homework."

Neither lack in self-confidence, especially because they've had a chance to rigorously prepare for every twist, climb, and current at the race site around and offshore of Kapi'olani Park. Racers from the Mainland and 49 other countries may not be familiar with the course because the ITU Triathlon rotates its location worldwide every year, unlike the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua, Kona.

Darling, who was sold on triathlons after watching footage of the Ironman in his freshman English class, views his familiarity of the grounds — and water — as his chance to grasp an advantage where others might struggle.

"I want to kill the course," he said. "I know it better than anybody. (The visiting racers) won't know what's coming around the corner, but I will."

Both have strong experience in the water — Darling has swam competitively since he was 7, and Swanson joined her school's water polo team in the seventh grade.

Both are A-average students and heavily involved in extra-curricular activities.

Swanson plays water polo and is class president at ASSETS, while Darling runs cross country for the Menehunes and is a poster boy for the state's anti- smoking advertisements.

Darling hopes he can parlay a good performance Sunday into a job someday.

"I want to be a professional triathlete," he said. "If I do well maybe I'll get to race with some elite athletes."

Swanson is applying for colleges with strong triathlon teams, such as the University of Colorado.

Of course, with big hopes come big responsibilities.

Swanson trains 18 hours per week, and does two of the three race genres on any given day — running, cycling, and swimming.

"It's an awesome sport," Swanson said. "It's challenging, but there's a big sense of accomplishment (afterward)."

Darling has gotten up at 5 a.m. since April to get in some precious training hours before school.

"There's nothing I'd rather be doing," he said.