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Nineteen year old McNamee, a second year Accountancy student at Stirling University, was runner up in last year's Scottish Universities Championships.  But a week ago he finished first, completing the 750 metre swim, 20km cycle ride and 5 kilometre run in 0:59:25 minutes.  Beating last year's winner, Blair Cartmell from Forres, by 22 seconds is a clear sign of his rapid improvement in the sport he started less than three years ago.
 
“I came from a swimming background and needed a new challenge,” said McNamee.  “I always used to run when I was younger so it grew from there.  I've been doing it for two and a half years so it's been quite a quick progression.”  McNamee's running has come on leaps and bounds.  He was third in the Scottish Universities 10k Championships in a speedy 32 minutes.
 
Supporting McNamee at Stirling since he arrived 18 months ago is the Central Scotland Institute of Sport. The Area Institutes of Sport network provides high performance expertise to Scotland's potential world class talent.
 
The Area Institutes of Sport work with partners to build greater success for Scottish sport. Its expert teams work together to deliver essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.
 
“The fact that everything is on hand here in Stirling helps,” he said.  “Through the Central Institute there's physio if you need it and the strength and conditioning facilities are excellent.  Scotland's top triathletes are based here in Stirling.”
 
McNamee's career aims are the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games.  But this year, aiming to qualify for the World Universities Championships in Turkey this June, is an important stepping stone towards both.
 
“This year I'd like to make the World Universities Championships.  The team is decided from the top six people (he finished sixth last year) from the British Universities Championships and one other selection event.”  
 
The British Universities Championships take place in Oxford on May 5th.