The 22-year-old has been one to watch both in triathlon circles and at the Aquathon in recent years and he proved why with a classy display on Saturday.

A former world junior champion, Breen grew up idolising legend Craig Alexander and on Australia Day he proved too good for his hero.

Alexander would ultimately finish in third position, with Nowra 19-year-old Troy Whittington claiming the silver medal.

A Cronulla resident, Breen led the pack out of the water before taking care of business on the run leg.

After multiple years of trying, Breen said it felt great to break through for his first Aquathon victory.

“It’s my first win here,” Breen said. “I got third last year. It’s my ninth time here, so it’s taken a while, but it’s great to finally get across the line with the win.

“I didn’t know what gap I had after the swim, but I knew that I’m in good running form, so if I could hold it together and just focus on myself, what I can control, then I would produce the best possible run I could.”

In another victory for the youngsters, Canberra 15-year-old Chloe Bateup took out the women’s event. 

Like Breen, Bateup negotiated her way through the swim leg before powering away from her rivals during the seven kilometre run. 

The talented teenager finished ahead of training partner Tilly Offord, who claimed the silver medal, and Wollongong’s Jacqui Allen, who produced a quality run to finish in third place.

A regular competitor in the ITU Junior National Series, Bateup was extremely happy with the result. 

“It feels really good to win the Aquathon,” Bateup said. “The swim was pretty good, a bit longer for me than what I’ve usually been doing, but it was a bit of a change and I found it pretty good.

The men’s race started in unconventional fashion, with the tides causing a late change to the swimming course.

A degree of confusion ensued, however Breen was able to negotiate the changes to emerge from the water in front.

From there, he held off a number of high-quality runners, turning a race lead into a comprehensive Aquathon victory.

For Breen, it was a race that went perfectly to plan.

“The swim’s often my strength,” Breen said.

“I like to take it out hard, try and not worry about what’s going on behind me and just try and hold my form.

“I try not look behind me on the run and just see if I can hold off the guys, because there are a couple of quick runners I knew were chasing me hard.”