A 17-year-old boy has been named America's fastest texter after winning a competition in New York.

Finalists in the US National Texting Championship were judged on speed and accuracy during eight rounds of the text-off.

Austin Weirschke, who's from the New York borough of Queens, triumphed over his rivals to claim the title for the second year running.

The teenager said of his win: "Texting in that last round I was like, this is a really impossible phrase.

"I was trying to take my time on it but I really wanted to win it again so I just went as fast as I could and tried to do my best and (rival) Kent did a really good job and he was really accurate so I was really nervous.

"But it worked out and I am really happy."

Weirschke won a prize of $50,000, which he says he will use to help fund his college education.