Monday 7 December 2015
Fantastic to catch up with such an inspiring professional Iron woman over the IMWA weekend. Yvonne van Vlerken was seen doubled over at stages on the run and still managed to finish in third when it looked like her day was over - a really gutsy performance and a 3:15 marathon. She has had multiple wins this year at Iron distance races including Challenge Roth. Here she is the day before the big race - wait for the last question which completely catches her off guard! Thanks Yvonne
Sunday 29 November 2015
YOURIRONGUIDE is a huge supporter of the Age
Group triathlete. All who finish an Ironman deserve the medal and also our
admiration. Again this year, we have looked through the start list to select,
with the help of Xavier Coppock (TEAM Tri), the best of the best AG athletes we
believe will figure prominently at the finish line for Ironman Western
Australia 2015 as a form guide.
What an Age Group line up! We may have a triathlon
gold medallist who also won outright an Ironman in Austria (to be confirmed), a
3 times ITU open world champion (also to be confirmed), a current IM age group
world champion, 2 ex-AFL players attempting to make the distance and a
well-known Australian actor who has made it to the World championships before. A
great line up for a great event.
Males
18 – 24 Did
finishing IMWA scare the youngest male age group from last year? The special
mention here goes to Dallon Hay who is the only one from this age group
to enter again this year. It shows how brutal Ironman can be and how hard it is
to repeat year after year. Joel Macallister showed some early form to go top 5 at
Busso 70.3 but Sam Dwyer will be the one to beat. He finished IM Melbourne 2014
with an 8:55 and won that event back to back (the first year winning his age
group by 17 minutes). He also made the top 6 in Kona back in 2013 – quality of
the field.
25
– 29 Daniel Macpherson started his Ironman journey back in 2008 at IMNZ. Many
will know him from TV shows “Neighbours” and “Dancing with the stars” but he is
a true competitor. He will be towards the very front of this Age Group. A recent fan of Daniel let us know that he would be in the next age group up this year and so this also may be a story of the same name for two different people. Sorry girls - GMac may not be in the house after all.
Margaret
River local Jarrad Bolton qualified for the World 70.3 champs in Austria this
year but may find the longer distance more of a challenge.
Special
Mention to Beau Waters (ex-West Coast Eagles AFL player). He ran 1:28 off the
bike in Rockingham for 5th in
the lead up event and could surprise many in his first ever IM. News in that
his biggest challenge is staying calm and not firing off all of the bullets
early on the bike. With local pro Katy Duffield (Duffield Ironman Twins) as a coach, he will be well prepared for the event.
30
– 34 The top 7 from last year all take a break. Barry Oelofsen will tackle his
very first IMWA. That does not mean the Exceed triathlon club pin up boy is
underprepared however following a quick turnaround from Kona this year. Coached
by Brett “doc” Sutton, Barry is all class with an 8:58 IM Melbourne this year
to qualify for the World Champs. Hopefully he will be enthusiastically cheered
on by the current open WA triathlete of the year watching her second ever
Ironman. Chris Rancie will mount a challenge. His 9:02 IM Melbourne 2015 is a
high benchmark. The third man to watch for is Brad Wall. He went 8:51 last year
on this very course and was one of the first AG on to the run. He ages up this
year but should find no issue with that as he has trained under the watchful
eye of local pro Courtney Ogden (Ogsquad). He is our pick for the win. Nathan
Doig deserves a mention as well. The AFL boundary umpire and “The Running Centre” local can really run – he will be the fast finisher shown by a 1:18
half marathon to finish IM Mandurah earlier this year.
35
– 39 This has to be one of the highest calibre 35-39 age group fields ever
assembled in Australia if they all start. Trent Chapman was 3rd
overall at IM Oz a couple of years back and comes from the Chapman stable of elite
triathletes. He is rumoured NOT to be racing but only the start line will
confirm. Rob Johnston finished 11th overall at IM Oz back in 2011.
Peter Robertson is another athlete listed to start. We believe there are two
Peter Robertsons that would both be in this age group and both from Australia.
One is a 3 time ITU world champion and has been flying around as a pro at IM
events recently. He finished 3rd outright behind Cam Brown and Tim
Van Berkel in Cairns the year it rained in 2014 and ran with the leaders for
the first 15km. The second is entered to start IMWA (but you never know which
one?). Jason Shields , an ETPA athlete, was IM Cairns champion and adds to the quality , The list does not
stop there however. Simon Johnson has plenty of Kona background and is just
plain consistent. Brad Jones and Kevin Coyle both believe their training
programs and numbers have been spot on so no excuses from them that the form is
not 100%. Travis Atkins also must be mentioned here, he went 9:01 last year and
Travis Gray (Elitesportz) has been in good form with a 45minute PB at Mandurah
70.3 recently but would need to have the race of his life to step on the
podium. The fastest age grouper on the day will come from this field and they
will push many pros – game on.
40
– 44 Mike Musk (pursuit coaching) looks a very strong contender. His first
place at Mandurah 70.3 in the lead up (4:15) would give him confidence. A 9:09
in Melbourne shows he can run out a full Ironman. Rob Wormald (Ogdogs) has
also tasted Hawaiian air on more than one occasion and is a very well drilled
athlete who will be there at the finish. His form in the water during recent
open water swim sets looks like all boxes have been ticked and a recent finish
of 3rd overall at the Rottnest Long Course has to show good signs.
Special mention to Dean Hodge (training locally with Elitesportz). His progress
on the swim and run over the last few months adds to his strength on the bike (a
BMC tmo2 we think) and he currently looks very fit according to sources at
Vault Cycle Services. Late note, Dean has had some back issues recently and may struggle to be at his best. That's Ironman unfortunately. Best wishes to you Dean.
45
– 49 Local legend, Mathew Jennings
(coincidentally also riding a BMC), hits this age group for the very first
time. He has been to Hawaii every second year for as long as we can remember
and takes racing seriously. He was in Hawaii this year just to check out the
conditions from the sidelines. He will go head to head with Matt Koorey - the
ex-Commonwealth games triathlon representative we successfully predicted last
year who returns to defend his title. Reports indicate he has struggled with a
knee injury recently following his demolition of Port Mac 70.3. That day, he
won by 14 minutes (yes, a 70.3 race won by 14 minutes). If he starts, he will
be a major contender. Arnaud Selukov finished 3rd last year after being within
a whisker of leading in to T2. He cannot be discounted either. Jason Lord adds
to the mix with a sub-9:30 to his name and rounding out the likely candidates
is Vince Zofrea who went to the big island in 2012
50 – 54 Last
year’s champ David Boyes (half of our local Ironman royal couple) is not listed to
start along with all of the top 10 from last year who go missing. Wayne Crook
finished 11th last year but would need to improve to get to the
pointy end. Daryl Harris finished 4th at Busso 70.3 and 2nd at Mandurah
70.3 This shows speed but will it mean stamina? David Cane was 3rd at IM 70.3
Busso and also in good form. Mark Sladden is the dark horse. He won an AG
category in Brazil over the full distance and has proved very capable.
#Special mention for John Cooke. He is the
quintessential Ironman who just keeps finishing race after race. This year, we
believe he will get the golden legacy ticket to go to the dream land of Hawaii.
No one is more worthy.
55
– 59 Doug Robertson from Pursuit coaching – has
great strength on the run and that can be the most important leg in an IM. He
has worked hard to improve the bike this season in preparation for this event
and should be the big improver. Another Ex-Eagles footballer, John Annear, has
also shown a liking to Ironman racing qualifying for Kona in 2012. No
questioning his fuel tank over this distance. Others in with a chance are Jeff
Blackwell (Kona 2011), David Braus who finished a 1998 Kona (yep that’s 17 years
ago) and won IM France 4 years ago. Obviously he has the pedigree. Rusty Cook –
5th IM Cairns with 9:56 is a solid contender as well. John Hill however
is the man to beat if he starts. He has had heart surgery from local reports so
may be a question mark. How many times can one person complete the Hawaii
Ironman? Ask John and he will tell you 21 times!
60
– 64 Last year’s winner Thomas Valena is back again. In the recent lead up race
in Mandurah (the 70.3) Ian Mossenson finished 1st and Steven
Bertling 2nd. Good form but will it extend in to the longer distance
– we think so and they will be near the podium. The final mention is TEAM Tri
Coaching athlete Stephen Hempel who has been in great shape recently.
65
– 69 Masaaki Horino finished top 10 in the world this year and is the quality
of the field. He should register a win if he has a trouble free event (which
never happens). Michael Besser and Theophile Resutek will improve from top 5
positions last year to fill the podium.
70
– 74 Not often do we see a current world champion at the start line. Griff
Weste took on the best of the world and won in Kona this year in just over 13
hours!!! His run split was 25 minutes faster than the elite field that day. He
has to be the favourite here. Geoff Thorsen in the reigning IMWA champ and will
be in the mix. Dieter Reithmeier goes up an age group and will make the podium
after 3rd last year.
75
– 79 John Webber 2nd in AG last year finishing 16:29 and should win
this year. He went to Hawaii and competed in the 75 – 79 AG (11 competitors).
Only 3 finished. Can he record the finish and win here? We think so!
80+
Yataka Kojima finished last year in a time of 16 hours to win the 75-79. He
went on to compete in Hawaii in the 80+ category (there were 3 in this AG). He
failed to finish in brutal conditions as an 80 year old. Can he do it here in
Busselton? We will be at the finish line to see it if he does! – What an
inspiration.
W18
– 24 Kate Vernon (Pursuit coaching – Mike Gee) will compete in her first
Ironman but latest info has her a strong contender. Her training has gone well
and with some self-belief, she will be a contender. The open win at the
Rottnest Long Course event recently also shows good form. Jacinta Wright is the
only person to go back to back at this event in this age group. She finished 5th
last year and our tip is she will be on the podium now she has tasted the distance.
25
– 29 Lisa Luckin is listed as a starter but rumours are she has withdrawn due
to injury. Lisa would have been one of the favourites. That doesn’t mean there
is no other quality here though. Kate Lahart (Irish) finished Kona back in 2012
and if the heat does not get her, will be a realistic chance. Emily Loughnan is
a dark horse. She finished 6th overall at Busso 70.3 (first in AG)
beating a number of pro girls this year. Will this translate into Ironman
distance speed though? We think so. Chantelle Oliver finished 3rd in
the 18-24 last year and steps up an age group. Libby Storm (another local pursuit
coaching athlete) was 2nd AG state champ but is known more as a short
distance specialist. She has speed but endurance is the question mark. Clondagh
Glynn (also pursuit coaching) was 2nd last year in her first ever IM
and won her age group at the local Rottnest Island long course event. Local
information tells us she has improved all legs this year for a higher placed finish.
Holly Ransom is the final hot tip to make the top 3. A great field to watch in
this age group with plenty of chances.
30
– 34 Nera Jareb was the fastest Age grouper in 2012. Now that’s smoking and
quality you can’t ignore. Rosie Oldham’s 9:32 finish to be 9th pro
at IM Melbourne in 2014 give her good credentials for the win. She is coming
off a serious bike accident but still looks in great shape. Lauren McGregor is our final tip to make up
the podium. She trains locally with Elitesportz and has had a good build from
recent reports and would love another ticket to Kona.
35
– 39 Lee Anne Flugel spent most of last year out injured. A strong bike/run
will put her amongst the front runners at the finish. Andrea Hopkins looks the
one to beat however. Rumours from a close source are that she has been smashing
training lately and if the day goes to plan, she will stand on top of the
podium. She is another TEAM Tri Coaching athlete and if her coach Xavier has it
right, she will be hard to beat.
40
– 44 Exceed triathlon club’s Janine Willis has plenty of Kona experience. She
is our pick to win this age group. Kim Dorling (5th last year) and Michelle
Gemmel (who has raced plenty of times and has many top 5 results) are the picks
to make up the first 3.
45
– 49 We will apologise in advance here as it is highly unlikely but Kate Allen
is listed to race in this age group. We do not have all of the background to
each athlete but if it is “the” KateAllen (who turns 45 this year) then she won Olympic gold at Athens in 2004.
Born in Australia and married to an Austrian, she became the first Austrian
summer Olympic gold medallist in decades. She was also first overall at IM
Austria 2003 in 8:54:01. We wish Kate all the best (which ever Kate Allen it
is). Michelle Boyes moves up an AG this year. She finished 3rd at
the world champs in October and is the standout.
Special
mention to Carrie Crane who also epitomises the Ironman tradition and rumours
are that she will qualify for a legacy slot this year – good luck Carrie.
50
– 54 Helen Vagnoni has been
smiling her way through training as per usual. She has been twice to Kona and a
great chance here to notch a win. Margaret Tremayne (5th. last year) will look to improve and Karen
Taverner (2nd in a Cairns 70.3 earlier as a warm up) will hope to
take race pace in to this event and complete the podium.
Special mention to Anna Woodhouse who
continues to work hard for a finish to this event every year. She has a strong
determination which captures the Ironman spirit.
55
– 59 Karen Scott has run plenty of marathons and finished plenty of Ironmans. She
is well travelled and a good competitor. Jillian Burns listed as GBR but has
raced as UAE competitor and won her age group over 70.3 distance ids the other
contender in this AG..
60
– 64 Hisako Yagi will look to improve from a solid 3rd last year to
a win in AG this year. Mirium Nielson will also improve for second place.
65
– 69 The oldest female competitor this year is Ann Grundy. Crossing the finish
line will give her the win and everyone’s admiration.
Monday 5 October 2015
The 5 best tips for your trip to Kona
The 5 best tips if you ever get the chance to go to Kona as a competitor. Many of these can be used at any overseas event but some are specific to the big Island.
Get a hatchback hire car
Like many Hawaii towns, Kona sits on the coast but rises
inland very quickly meaning it is built on the side of a hill. It is also spread
out as far as supermarkets, bike shops, Expo, Accommodation etc. Yes, you can
bike to each of these but it uses a lot of energy and stress if you forget
something and have to go back. Sedan cars in the US also have a crash wall
between the rear seats and boot (trunk). A bike or bike case will not fit in to
the rear of a standard sedan but will even in to the smallest hatch. The
airport is only a few minutes from town so 1 small cramped trip is worth an
economy hatch.
Get there early and buy before you train
If you get to Kona early (8 days or more before the event) you
will beat the rush. Have a shopping list of requirements for the race that you
could not bring with you and find/buy those products on the first two days.
Many items (like pit-stop tyre inflator GU for example) run low towards the
middle of race week so to save the stress, get them early! It will also help
you acclimatise to the time zone and climate.
Get a Condo not a hotel
A condo allows you to cook at home, enjoy the space while
setting up your gear, and use facilities like BBQ, pool and spa. Race week can
be stressful and living in someone else’s pocket during this time will just add
to the burden. The condo is best near but not in town. Being in-town can be
great to get the hype of the event but may cause issues in getting rest and
sleep.
Get the right food
Hawaii imports almost all of their fresh produce as they
cannot be grown on the island. This makes standard salad and vegetable items
relatively expensive compared to the fast food outlets that are everywhere. If
you buy from any of the supermarkets (for example “Safeway”), many have discount
cards if you become a member (which is a 2 minute sign up)that are worthwhile
for between 10 - 20% off. Check you groceries closely too as many items like
bread will be VERY sweet compared to Australian products so it is worth
checking. It may also take you longer on your first visit to find a product as
they are often hidden in a different area to where you would expect of in
different packaging. Embrace the difference in culture and don’t be stressed by
the extra time to shop for what you want.
Limit the Celebration
Everywhere in the last week you will find Ironman giveaways
and promotions. Many athletes get caught up in the hype and forget rest,
training, nutrition and hydration. A simple training run along Alii Drive will include
a dozen stands with anything from bonk breakers to Gatorade to GoPro and many
will have giveaway products included. DON’T CHANGE YOUR DAY RACE SETUP AT THE
LAST MINUTE BECAUSE OF THE PROMOTION. There may also be invites to events that
can interrupt the training so be weary. These products are all great and add
much to our sport but try to keep focus on the race.
Sunday 4 October 2015
The "Hollywood" of Ironman
The pre-race week of the year has arrived. Hawaii, Kona, The World Championships, The Hollywood of Ironman.........whatever you may call it, the big dance has arrived!!
Many athletes wait the whole year for this week to show their training has been worthwhile and prove to themselves it was all worth it. This week, YOURIRONGUIDE is in Kailua Kona as both an competitor and media representative. It is hoped we can offer insight in to the week and what it means to be part of the action. To start proceedings, here are a few images of the swim start and Queen Ka'ahumanu highway (affectionately known simply as the Queen K).This is to simply wet your appetite. Tomorrow - what you need to know about the big Island of Hawaii if you ever wish to prepare for the journey!
Many athletes wait the whole year for this week to show their training has been worthwhile and prove to themselves it was all worth it. This week, YOURIRONGUIDE is in Kailua Kona as both an competitor and media representative. It is hoped we can offer insight in to the week and what it means to be part of the action. To start proceedings, here are a few images of the swim start and Queen Ka'ahumanu highway (affectionately known simply as the Queen K).This is to simply wet your appetite. Tomorrow - what you need to know about the big Island of Hawaii if you ever wish to prepare for the journey!
The famous pier that is the transition for the day
The final walk down to the water at DigMe beach (swim start)
Queen K
Even at sunset the heat remains
180km of white line awaits
Thursday 6 August 2015
Journey to Long Distance Triathlon presentation
Following the great response to last year’s presentation, and calls for a similar event to run this year, YOURIRONGUIDE will again be offering an information evening specific to new athletes training for long distance events – specifically Ironman Western Australia. This year, we have joined forces with Star Physio to provide a FREE 1 hour quality presentation not to be missed.
Ever wanted to go longer in your events but unsure where to start? This presentation is designed to give an insight in to the basics you need to get right to be successful in your first attempt. It is specifically scheduled 4 months out from Ironman Western Australia to give a start point on how to stay focused, preparing both physicall...y and mentally and includes topics on time management, tips, and how to avoid mistakes at the time most programs begin.
Rod Marton (YOURIRONGUIDE) is a six time Kona Ironman qualifier, races locally, interstate and overseas and has learnt from his mistakes to gain insight to getting a preparation right.
The presentation for the first timer, or those wanting to improve on previous attempts, also includes information for partners (who are most welcome) to make it through the 16 weeks leading in to an Ironman or 70.3. Many age groupers and professional athletes have already taken information away from this talk which has helped them to not only gain confidence in their preparation but to improve results. Not specific to IMWA – all welcome.
Held at Star Physio 588 Stirling Highway
Mosman Park, WA 6012
Tel: (08) 9383 – 3570
Ever wanted to go longer in your events but unsure where to start? This presentation is designed to give an insight in to the basics you need to get right to be successful in your first attempt. It is specifically scheduled 4 months out from Ironman Western Australia to give a start point on how to stay focused, preparing both physicall...y and mentally and includes topics on time management, tips, and how to avoid mistakes at the time most programs begin.
Rod Marton (YOURIRONGUIDE) is a six time Kona Ironman qualifier, races locally, interstate and overseas and has learnt from his mistakes to gain insight to getting a preparation right.
The presentation for the first timer, or those wanting to improve on previous attempts, also includes information for partners (who are most welcome) to make it through the 16 weeks leading in to an Ironman or 70.3. Many age groupers and professional athletes have already taken information away from this talk which has helped them to not only gain confidence in their preparation but to improve results. Not specific to IMWA – all welcome.
Held at Star Physio 588 Stirling Highway
Mosman Park, WA 6012
Tel: (08) 9383 – 3570
Wednesday 24 June 2015
The dust has settled
The dust has now settled and YOURIRONGUIDE is happy to say that Cairns IM was an exceptionally well run event this year. The weather gods did not favour the day with regular rain and wet conditions. Many AG athletes commented they preferred the rain for cooling on the run instead of the tortuous humidity when the sun came out so perhaps a silver lining to the clouds above. Throw in some strong head winds back to town on the bike course and this year's edition was a real test. We will be going through plenty of footage including following a first time athlete throughout the day to ride the highs and lows and also an upcoming treat - we have 7 pro athletes talking about their very first IM event and all of the issues they also had to struggle with on the first attempt. Below is a small tease of things to come - a video of what must have been the longest IM transition in history. We think almost every athlete required a gel and hydration just to make it from one end to the other. That however is ironman racing and why we love it so much - every course is so different.
Monday 8 June 2015
IM Cairns predictions
Ironman Cairns is almost here and
that means our predictions for Age Group honours have been compiled. We need to
begin by saying that every person who registers and completes an Ironman
deserves a medal. This includes both professional and age group athletes and
the below list is not intended to highlight “winners” but more the people who
have shown amazing commitment to raise the level of competition and profile of our
sport.
YOURIRONGUIDE is a huge supporter of the age grouper. They are truly inspiring and the backbone of any iron distance event.
This time around, we have joined forces with 2 Australian IM icons – Xavier Coppock (Team Tri Coaching) and Matt Koorey (TEAM TBB coaching). Both of these guys won their respective age groups at their last start and both also coach many high level pro and AG athletes. Here is the compilation of AG athletes to watch on June 14 in Cairns.
18 – 24 Male
Robin Pesche was one of our selections in Busselton last December and he didn’t disappoint taking out a podium place that day. He has raced throughout Europe and Australia as part of the Runners Point Tri team and no doubt he will want to improve a step or two higher at this event.
Queensland local Luke Beauchamp is the dark horse here. Luke went to Kona 2 years ago after qualifying in Port Mac that year dominating the 18-24 AG. His work as a fitness advisor at Bayside Multisports club allows plenty of opportunity to train. He has not been as high profile lately. Will he return to his best form here? We believe so and have him in the top 2. (read more here)
18 – 24 Female
Brisbane girl (formally from the USA), Courtney Home, achieved a podium in this age group at her first attempt. The chocolate loving Courtney, (she works in a hand-made chocolate shop) has certainly set her sights on a high finish in Cairns to get an invite to the World Champs. With a full race menu this year instead of a chocolate menu, she is looking as a strong contender. (read more here)
With only one likely slot available, she will not have it all her own way as she competes against Karlie Jennings, another local Queensland girl, who may well have been the first Australian to compete in Kona last year on the exact same day as her grandfather. Her family learning curve has been high and if she has taken in enough information, she will also be hard to beat. (read more here)
25 - 29 Male
Rarely do you have the opportunity to see two world champions go head to head in anything but a championship race but we are lucky to see it here.
Amos Gollach was born in Zimbabwe but now lives in Perth. He is a former world Champion at Ironman distance recording a 9:01:15 on the big island in hot, humid and windy conditions (is there anything else in Hawaii) in 2013. He has also raced this course 2 years ago and won the 18-24 AG that year by 50 minutes! If he can capture any of that form here, he must be one to beat. (read more here)
Levi Maxwell however is the current 25 -29 world champion (and also was the second AG overall). He won last October in Kona with a scorching time of 8:52 (2:54 marathon) and has an 8:41 to his name. His winning margin was 14 minutes in Kona and this means he has already qualified for this year’s championship. Will Levi pull the trigger on an all-out assault or simply validate his qualification?
The second West Australian in this field to watch, Ashan Weerakkody, seems destined to lead the group out of T1. His smoking swim will ensure he begins the bike in the right place. He would however need to improve his ride strength from previous outings to be amongst the medals when the run is on.
Joseph Cleasby, another WA boy, made last year’s podium here with a 9:23. Perhaps warmer predicted conditions will improve his chances to step up a notch or two.
Kiwi, Blair Walmsby, won IMNZ last year in this AG, running down his competitors in the final kilometres. That day he won by less than a minute. That shows he has the finishing kick and mental strength to worry the field. He improves every leg of the race and could be a possible overseas raider for the title.
Others capable of a sub 9:30 time and a top 5 include Matthew Rundle, Chris Wood (if we have the right “Chris Wood” who finished Ironman Melbourne in 9:08) and member of TEAM Tri - Michael Harvey (9.16 IMMelb 2014 & IMJapan Age Group winner)
The dark horse here is David Kalinowski, He surprised many with an overall win at Ultraman Australia and has a 4.14 over 70.3 distance to his name It will be a question of how much fuel he has in his tank after Ultraman to trouble the front of the field.
The fastest age group time on the day will come from these athletes.
25 - 29 Female
4 of the top 8 from Cairns last year return this year
WA’s Amy Van Dijk is no stranger to Ironman. She had a podium finish back in 2012 in her home state and followed up with a 4TH in Cairns last year.
TEAM Tri Coaching’s Rikki Anderson beat Amy to the podium last year on this very course in a respectable 10:43.
Brooke Kennedy and local Port Douglas girl Kate Houlahan finished last year in 7th and 8th respectively and would feel they have good chances to improve if they have put together a good build to this event.
Lucy Forbes is our final selection. She is a talented local Port Douglas athlete who won a recent duathlon overall but does she have the legs for the longer distances? We will find out Sunday evening. (read more here)
30 - 34 Male
TEAM Tri Coaching’s Matt Shepherd is the only man returning from last year in the top 5. His 9:16 last year in the rain was good enough for 4th in AG and information on him has a solid preparation this year.
Oskar Booth started his triathlon campaign in Broome following a number of years as a top flight orienteering athlete. His run background means he can never be discounted as he will be flying toward the finish tape. Since moving to Perth to join a current pro female athlete, he has strengthened the other disciplines of swim and bike to be a realistic chance of a podium here.
Kiwi Josh Harrison has qualified for the big dance before back in 2013 and that shows he has plenty of experience and cannot be discounted. A trip to Cairns would not be taken lightly.
Clint Kimmins, the former pro surfer who on occasions has trained with our very own Luke McKenzie as part of the 10/10 challenge, is also quality. He has already achieved an outright win in this category in Busselton IM.
Jarrod Owen however is the one to watch. He posted a smoking 8:55 at IMWA and that sort of form is rare. If he can bring that type of form here, he will be the one to beat.
30 - 34 Female
Not a lot of athletes from the top 10 have returned this year from the field that started the 2014 edition of Cairns. One exception is Steph Graves. Knowledge of the course will pay dividends and she will hope to improve on her placing last year.
Chieko Kimura will hope to take the title back to Japan. Her top 5 at IM Japan 2013 shows lots of promise and she will be up an AG this year so the baby of the field.
Naomi Rands had a solid 4th at IM Melbourne last year. Another 15 months of loading will do her good and she will be there at the finish.
Shannon Proffit, raced NZ, Port, Hawaii 70.3 (won AG there) and now is backing up for Cairns. That is a lot of racing and her finish will largely depend on how much fuel she has been able to save before the gun goes off. She has been to Kona before so knows how to get the job done and prepare for a race but this will certainly be a test.
35 - 39 Male
Andrew Carracher finished on the podium here last year in the rain with a 9:22. That day he had the fasted run split in his age group of 3:02 (with wet and muddy shoes and socks). His improvement in bike strength will determine if he can step higher in the placings.
James Debenham (from TEAM Tri Coaching stable) now trains in Western Australia close to the Fremantle Dockers home ground after spending much of his life in the UK. This physio specialist and university lecturer knows everything about lower leg injury and treatment and with that knowledge, smashed a sub 9:10 IM on his local Busselton course in 2013. That gave him a trip to Hawaii last year. Our information is that he has put together a solid preparation for this event and needs to be considered for a high finish with a strong bike leg.
Local Boy and TEAM Tri Coaching’s Nathan Sandford, has been top 10 in the previous years. He “ages up” here and will once again be around the mark after a few 9hr 30min performances. A 4th at Ironman Japan last year and 11th at Ironman New Zealand, Nathan will be as keen as ever to challenge the big guns and is our dark horse to watch.
Ex State Cricketers Graham Manou and Brett Swain (40 - 44) also deserve a mention as another cross over to our great sport after being very successful playing cricket for different states. Graham also played 1 test match for Australia but this will be his second IM event. For Brett, this is his first. Good Luck gentlemen. (read more here)
35 - 39 Female
The former pole vaulter, Andrea Hopkin for Western Australia turned to Ironman in 2009. Steady improvement and a killer run leg (she has a sub-3hr marathon to her name) delivered her a World Championship slot last year. She will be running to the finish line in style and any girl in front of her will be watching their back hoping she does not run past. ## Our late news is she may not be racing
Renae Witt has shown ability on this course before, finishing 4th last year and just missing the podium. The wet conditions then may have slowed her progress and we believe she will show improvement this year.
Debbi Hazelden, the Kiwi based in Sydney, coaches triathlon and Ironman at Wish Fitness. Her 10:18 at the 2014 Cairns Ironman placed 2nd in her age group, 5th age grouper overall, and earned her a place at the 2014 Kona Ironman World Championships. She is quality and will be in the mix (if she listens to her own words of wisdom on the day) Wish Fitness
Andrea Bess will also be one to beat. The former Brazil native now lives in Kona, and why not as she has qualified to race there 4 times! The one spot left for her report card is a 1st place at a full IM event.
As per Melbourne Ironman in 2014, Nicole Hart will be chasing the leaders down. Running a 3hr 1min Marathon that day saw her win that age group comfortably. Every girl in this group will have a target on their backs as she sprints to the finish line.
This will be a great competition and very close with plenty of seasoned athletes ready to show their talents.
40 - 44 Male
It is likely to take a sub 9:10 time to win this age group depending on conditions as it is such a strong field.
The German born, Honk Kong resident, Olaf Kaston, only took up Ironman competitively in 2012 but went 9:10 in Melbourne soon after and qualified that year for Hawaii (finishing 8th). The following year, he won the age group on the swim shortened course finishing 8:13. With a 4:40bike and close to 3 hours flat on the run. He will be one to beat. (read more here)
Winning the 40 – 44 age group is also something Nick Burt is capable of. He won IM Australia in 2014 with a finish time barely over 9 hours. We might add that he ran a 2:54 marathon that day to finish 11th overall. The winner is likely to come from one of these two outstanding athletes. (read more here)
Brendan Flanagan from Brisbane, is likely to be a strong competitor and will push for a podium after showing great signs in IMWA to finish 3rd. He is from the Red Dog stable and in his local state, may be more comfortable to show even more speed. (read more here)
Bevan Mckinnon will be after a bit of redemption after his explosion at IMNZ. Having a 15min lead in his age group hitting T2, Bevan looked like he was going to be first age grouper over the line that day until the last 4k took him 1hr 30min. No doubt he has fire in his belly to try and take the title here
40 - 44 Female
Stepping up to this age group is Port Mac local Melinda Cockshutt. She is fresh from celebrating her 40th birthday last year on the big island after a great performance at IMWA in 2013. As the “youngster” of this group and capable of a 55 minute swim – it is very likely she will be the early front runner.(read more here)
Monique Flores returns to Cains after finishing on the podium here last year. She has already put a strong performance together in Melbourne earlier in 2015 and her ability here depends on the build and taper following that event. It is certainly a difficult assignment to back up from that race only months ago.
Karen Moy also returns to Cairns after 4th last year. That day she had one of the fastest bike splits and would have been very close to exiting T2 in front of the pack before fading on the run. Will this be the year she holds form in the vital third leg to make the podium?
45 - 59 Male
Pay your money, get the tickets and sit back to watch this age group contest as it will be the highlight of all Ironman age groups.
Anthony Fesche, the cosmopolitan Kiwi flight Captain who lives
in Hong Kong but lists Singapore as a home, took 2nd in the 40-44AG at Cairns
2013. That year he smashed a 4:45 bike time in the wind and heat to move from 23rd
to 2nd in a single leg. On his day, a quality athlete and cannot be
discounted.
Al Jefferson, won here last year by a full 6 minutes even after giving the rest of the field a chance with a 7 minute T2 (what were you doing in there Al?). Allan placed 11th in the 35-39 AG at Kona way back in 2006 and thus has a long pedigree. He has been sub-9:15 regularly and must be in contention if not our winner here.
Matt Koorey, the ex-
Australian Commonwealth Games representative in triathlon, will also be racing.
Fresh from his win at IMWA last December, (yes Matt, I remember the last
kilometre well) he will also be a strong runner to contend with.
The final contender is Darren Franken. He will be near the front of this field, has the swim/bike to be competitive, however with an inconsistent run, you never know which Darren will turn up? If he is on, there is not many better in this age group.
This is one of the strongest 45 – 49 fields outside of Hawaii we have ever seen. It will be won and lost in the final 10km of the day and worth watching every minute.
45 - 49 Female
Fresh from her 8 minute Ironman Australia win this year (and 45 minutes over third place), Belinda Ward looks to be in rare form. Is it possible to back up that effort barely 3 months later? We will see??
Another competitor to try and go back-to-back with events close together is WA’s Melina Townsend. She competed at IMNZ back in March and she too is registered to start in Cairns. A strong swim bike combination gave her a podium chance before losing a couple of places on the run that day. Can she capture the run speed to be a significant factor here after only 3 months between races?? Both of these athletes need to have had a great build to be in the money.
Mojca Mijovic has done plenty of travel and plenty of races. You only have to look at her past with podium positions in USA events back as far as 2008. She is a tough competitor and one to watch. Another with a long background is Fiona Lim. If our research is correct, she won her AG over 10 years ago at IM Malaysia.
Alison Coote however has shown her ability on this very course finishing second last year and will be our pick to beat in the 2015 edition. Conditions last year were mild and if she is able to handle what Cairns can throw up, and with course knowledge, she will be there at the finish.
50 - 54 Male
This age group could be a real battle between nations.
The local Queenslander with a 70.3 on his doorstep, Richard Goodger from Yeppoon, qualified in 2011 and 2012 for Kona and seems the quality to win here.(read more here)
He will be hotly tested however by Junya Yujiri from Japan. Junya has also visited the lava fields twice in 2009 and 2014. He also seems to be the man for the job.
Bathurst triathlete Terry Roberts joined the IM Aus Legends club after finishing his 10th IM Australia (read more here). He has received a permanent race number (259) for his loyalty to the event. He has also been to the World Championships and our winner should come from these three.
50 - 54 Female
Sarah Jane Blair (4th IMNZ 2014) is no stranger to Ironman. She has travelled from her native Kiwi land to try and steal away the main prize.
Merryn Truskett seems to be the one to beat however. Her podium in the 45-49 AG at Busselton IM in 2012 is still a display of her ability following qualification at Kona the year before. She has also graced the world stage at shorter distance. With over 20 years of experience and hailing from the Warringah Triathlon Club, she is our pick.
Western Australian Ruth Metcalf from the Pursuit coaching stable (ex Pro Mike Gee is the head coach) is the unknown quantity here. She has certainly shown glimpses of her talent but will need to be at her best to be a factor.
Karen Wilson also attempts to step up from 70.3 distance this year. Her solid performance from last year cannot be discounted.
55 - 59 Male
Ironman royalty graces this age group. Kevin Ferguson is well known throughout the country and is a World Champion at 3 different distances (in the same year). His “5 for 55” effort last year was to raise money for cancer research with a goal of winning 5 ironman events in a calendar year – which he did. Unless Kevin falls over he will win as he is the very pinnacle of this age group, demonstrated by his win by more than 30 minutes last year.
(read more here)
Perhaps scared by Kevin, none of last year’s top 10 are racing again this year.
Allan Moustoukas has travelled to Hawaii in 2012 running out of the CBD cycles stable. He is certainly capable of a podium in the field. Doug Robertson finished 2nd last year in Cairns but at 70.3 distance. Is he capable of stepping up to this length and still retaining the speed? We will wait to see.
Hiroshi Tsukamura is the dark horse here. He is well travelled and race ready. Any athlete with his run speed cannot be ignored – shown back in 2013 at IM Japan with a run leg that picked up 10 positions!
55 - 59 Female
Interesting that every competitor in this category has plenty of Ironman history. That means there are no easy picks for top honours as all of these girls know how to finish an Ironman event. It is a smaller field than the bumper crop from last year but rich in talent. Mary Mitchell was a standout athlete at IMWA and has qualified to go Big Island hopping before. She smashed out a 10:37 back in 2013 on that course, only being beaten on the day by world champion (and AG goddess) June Ward. She was not able to make the finish line at Busselton last December so hopefully she will be ready for this race.
Caron Mackie finished a solid 6th here last year and may be the only one with local course knowledge. We will give her the nod to finish on the podium behind Mary.
Catherine Fullford started IM back in 2011 and now has a better grasp on what is required. She is our tip to make up the placings.
60 - 64 Male
9 different nationalities are represented in this field which shows the cosmopolitan aspect of the Cairns location. It also makes it very difficult to pick winners.
Thomas Velena finished second back in 2010 at IMWA in the previous age group. That day he went 9:57. If he can go near that time, he is a chance to take the chocolates.
Robert Coulson has had a few good performances as well. He won a 70.3 race in the UK and a close second at IM South Africa both back in 2010. He will figure in the podium.
60 - 64 Female
Local Girl Sharman Parr (Team Tri Coaching) will again take on IM Cairns. If you have not heard of her by the time you leave the coral coast then you must have had your head in the sand. She had run out of fingers 5 years ago in counting the number of times she has qualified for the big dance and is quality…..period.
Karen Short is by no means a newbie anymore following her IM Melbourne in 2014. That day she missed the podium by a minute plus change after a full day of racing! She is the “youngster” in this category after moving up this year. Both women are well on their way to great finishes and will dominate the age group.
65 - 69 Male
A small field this year with only 4 starters. The Frenchman Marti Robert has plenty of racing background and also knows the way to the World Champs. He is the quality in this field and will win. Shuzo Sato will ensure Marti keeps focused but may struggle to hold the final speed required for the top spot.
70 - 74 Male
Shoji Nakano is the front runner here. His rise to the World Champs back in 2012 and the times he has displayed sets him as the favourite.
Griff Weste is no stranger to speed. He still holds the race record for the 60-64 category at IM New Zealand on the bike. Give that some thought……the fastest ever bike time in the history of that event (dating back 30 years) by a 60-64 age grouper!! You can not discount him based on that.
Ken Poole has won in South Africa but will have more competitors ready to take his top spot this race and Niel Gilbert showed promise in 2013 at IM Melbourne to finish 5th
Frank Fesche is our dark horse as he has not been spotted in IM circles since way back in 1997. He did however roll around in 2013 at Cairns but in the 70.3. Our big tip for the day is this Port Douglas local will compete for the podium.
75 - 79 Male
We have 2 entrants listed in this category and one will start the event. Fimiaki SATO was the fastest in his AG at IM Sweden back in 2012 (as a young 72 year old). That year he even picked up a bike sponsor!! He has been to Kona and is a true champion.
The second competitor Fusao Sekiya sadly passed away while run training for Cairns. He was well known in Cairns as the athlete who missed the 17 hour cut-off by just 31 seconds in 2013. We can report that he did finish last year with 8 minutes to spare and was presented with his cherished finisher’s medal. Our best wishes to his family.(read more here)
Paratriathlete
Rob Paterson is in a wheelchair following being hit by a semi-trailer while on a training ride on the Hume Highway. This is not his first attempt at an IM. That occurred back in 2013 at IMWA but he was unable to finish. He is the only athlete in this category and please cheer him on to try and complete the gruelling distance before the cut off times tick by.(read more here)
YOURIRONGUIDE is a huge supporter of the age grouper. They are truly inspiring and the backbone of any iron distance event.
This time around, we have joined forces with 2 Australian IM icons – Xavier Coppock (Team Tri Coaching) and Matt Koorey (TEAM TBB coaching). Both of these guys won their respective age groups at their last start and both also coach many high level pro and AG athletes. Here is the compilation of AG athletes to watch on June 14 in Cairns.
18 – 24 Male
Robin Pesche was one of our selections in Busselton last December and he didn’t disappoint taking out a podium place that day. He has raced throughout Europe and Australia as part of the Runners Point Tri team and no doubt he will want to improve a step or two higher at this event.
Queensland local Luke Beauchamp is the dark horse here. Luke went to Kona 2 years ago after qualifying in Port Mac that year dominating the 18-24 AG. His work as a fitness advisor at Bayside Multisports club allows plenty of opportunity to train. He has not been as high profile lately. Will he return to his best form here? We believe so and have him in the top 2. (read more here)
18 – 24 Female
Brisbane girl (formally from the USA), Courtney Home, achieved a podium in this age group at her first attempt. The chocolate loving Courtney, (she works in a hand-made chocolate shop) has certainly set her sights on a high finish in Cairns to get an invite to the World Champs. With a full race menu this year instead of a chocolate menu, she is looking as a strong contender. (read more here)
With only one likely slot available, she will not have it all her own way as she competes against Karlie Jennings, another local Queensland girl, who may well have been the first Australian to compete in Kona last year on the exact same day as her grandfather. Her family learning curve has been high and if she has taken in enough information, she will also be hard to beat. (read more here)
25 - 29 Male
Rarely do you have the opportunity to see two world champions go head to head in anything but a championship race but we are lucky to see it here.
Amos Gollach was born in Zimbabwe but now lives in Perth. He is a former world Champion at Ironman distance recording a 9:01:15 on the big island in hot, humid and windy conditions (is there anything else in Hawaii) in 2013. He has also raced this course 2 years ago and won the 18-24 AG that year by 50 minutes! If he can capture any of that form here, he must be one to beat. (read more here)
Levi Maxwell however is the current 25 -29 world champion (and also was the second AG overall). He won last October in Kona with a scorching time of 8:52 (2:54 marathon) and has an 8:41 to his name. His winning margin was 14 minutes in Kona and this means he has already qualified for this year’s championship. Will Levi pull the trigger on an all-out assault or simply validate his qualification?
The second West Australian in this field to watch, Ashan Weerakkody, seems destined to lead the group out of T1. His smoking swim will ensure he begins the bike in the right place. He would however need to improve his ride strength from previous outings to be amongst the medals when the run is on.
Joseph Cleasby, another WA boy, made last year’s podium here with a 9:23. Perhaps warmer predicted conditions will improve his chances to step up a notch or two.
Kiwi, Blair Walmsby, won IMNZ last year in this AG, running down his competitors in the final kilometres. That day he won by less than a minute. That shows he has the finishing kick and mental strength to worry the field. He improves every leg of the race and could be a possible overseas raider for the title.
Others capable of a sub 9:30 time and a top 5 include Matthew Rundle, Chris Wood (if we have the right “Chris Wood” who finished Ironman Melbourne in 9:08) and member of TEAM Tri - Michael Harvey (9.16 IMMelb 2014 & IMJapan Age Group winner)
The dark horse here is David Kalinowski, He surprised many with an overall win at Ultraman Australia and has a 4.14 over 70.3 distance to his name It will be a question of how much fuel he has in his tank after Ultraman to trouble the front of the field.
The fastest age group time on the day will come from these athletes.
25 - 29 Female
4 of the top 8 from Cairns last year return this year
WA’s Amy Van Dijk is no stranger to Ironman. She had a podium finish back in 2012 in her home state and followed up with a 4TH in Cairns last year.
TEAM Tri Coaching’s Rikki Anderson beat Amy to the podium last year on this very course in a respectable 10:43.
Brooke Kennedy and local Port Douglas girl Kate Houlahan finished last year in 7th and 8th respectively and would feel they have good chances to improve if they have put together a good build to this event.
Lucy Forbes is our final selection. She is a talented local Port Douglas athlete who won a recent duathlon overall but does she have the legs for the longer distances? We will find out Sunday evening. (read more here)
30 - 34 Male
TEAM Tri Coaching’s Matt Shepherd is the only man returning from last year in the top 5. His 9:16 last year in the rain was good enough for 4th in AG and information on him has a solid preparation this year.
Oskar Booth started his triathlon campaign in Broome following a number of years as a top flight orienteering athlete. His run background means he can never be discounted as he will be flying toward the finish tape. Since moving to Perth to join a current pro female athlete, he has strengthened the other disciplines of swim and bike to be a realistic chance of a podium here.
Kiwi Josh Harrison has qualified for the big dance before back in 2013 and that shows he has plenty of experience and cannot be discounted. A trip to Cairns would not be taken lightly.
Clint Kimmins, the former pro surfer who on occasions has trained with our very own Luke McKenzie as part of the 10/10 challenge, is also quality. He has already achieved an outright win in this category in Busselton IM.
Jarrod Owen however is the one to watch. He posted a smoking 8:55 at IMWA and that sort of form is rare. If he can bring that type of form here, he will be the one to beat.
30 - 34 Female
Not a lot of athletes from the top 10 have returned this year from the field that started the 2014 edition of Cairns. One exception is Steph Graves. Knowledge of the course will pay dividends and she will hope to improve on her placing last year.
Chieko Kimura will hope to take the title back to Japan. Her top 5 at IM Japan 2013 shows lots of promise and she will be up an AG this year so the baby of the field.
Naomi Rands had a solid 4th at IM Melbourne last year. Another 15 months of loading will do her good and she will be there at the finish.
Shannon Proffit, raced NZ, Port, Hawaii 70.3 (won AG there) and now is backing up for Cairns. That is a lot of racing and her finish will largely depend on how much fuel she has been able to save before the gun goes off. She has been to Kona before so knows how to get the job done and prepare for a race but this will certainly be a test.
Andrew Carracher finished on the podium here last year in the rain with a 9:22. That day he had the fasted run split in his age group of 3:02 (with wet and muddy shoes and socks). His improvement in bike strength will determine if he can step higher in the placings.
James Debenham (from TEAM Tri Coaching stable) now trains in Western Australia close to the Fremantle Dockers home ground after spending much of his life in the UK. This physio specialist and university lecturer knows everything about lower leg injury and treatment and with that knowledge, smashed a sub 9:10 IM on his local Busselton course in 2013. That gave him a trip to Hawaii last year. Our information is that he has put together a solid preparation for this event and needs to be considered for a high finish with a strong bike leg.
Local Boy and TEAM Tri Coaching’s Nathan Sandford, has been top 10 in the previous years. He “ages up” here and will once again be around the mark after a few 9hr 30min performances. A 4th at Ironman Japan last year and 11th at Ironman New Zealand, Nathan will be as keen as ever to challenge the big guns and is our dark horse to watch.
Ex State Cricketers Graham Manou and Brett Swain (40 - 44) also deserve a mention as another cross over to our great sport after being very successful playing cricket for different states. Graham also played 1 test match for Australia but this will be his second IM event. For Brett, this is his first. Good Luck gentlemen. (read more here)
35 - 39 Female
The former pole vaulter, Andrea Hopkin for Western Australia turned to Ironman in 2009. Steady improvement and a killer run leg (she has a sub-3hr marathon to her name) delivered her a World Championship slot last year. She will be running to the finish line in style and any girl in front of her will be watching their back hoping she does not run past. ## Our late news is she may not be racing
Renae Witt has shown ability on this course before, finishing 4th last year and just missing the podium. The wet conditions then may have slowed her progress and we believe she will show improvement this year.
Debbi Hazelden, the Kiwi based in Sydney, coaches triathlon and Ironman at Wish Fitness. Her 10:18 at the 2014 Cairns Ironman placed 2nd in her age group, 5th age grouper overall, and earned her a place at the 2014 Kona Ironman World Championships. She is quality and will be in the mix (if she listens to her own words of wisdom on the day) Wish Fitness
Andrea Bess will also be one to beat. The former Brazil native now lives in Kona, and why not as she has qualified to race there 4 times! The one spot left for her report card is a 1st place at a full IM event.
As per Melbourne Ironman in 2014, Nicole Hart will be chasing the leaders down. Running a 3hr 1min Marathon that day saw her win that age group comfortably. Every girl in this group will have a target on their backs as she sprints to the finish line.
This will be a great competition and very close with plenty of seasoned athletes ready to show their talents.
40 - 44 Male
It is likely to take a sub 9:10 time to win this age group depending on conditions as it is such a strong field.
The German born, Honk Kong resident, Olaf Kaston, only took up Ironman competitively in 2012 but went 9:10 in Melbourne soon after and qualified that year for Hawaii (finishing 8th). The following year, he won the age group on the swim shortened course finishing 8:13. With a 4:40bike and close to 3 hours flat on the run. He will be one to beat. (read more here)
Winning the 40 – 44 age group is also something Nick Burt is capable of. He won IM Australia in 2014 with a finish time barely over 9 hours. We might add that he ran a 2:54 marathon that day to finish 11th overall. The winner is likely to come from one of these two outstanding athletes. (read more here)
Brendan Flanagan from Brisbane, is likely to be a strong competitor and will push for a podium after showing great signs in IMWA to finish 3rd. He is from the Red Dog stable and in his local state, may be more comfortable to show even more speed. (read more here)
Bevan Mckinnon will be after a bit of redemption after his explosion at IMNZ. Having a 15min lead in his age group hitting T2, Bevan looked like he was going to be first age grouper over the line that day until the last 4k took him 1hr 30min. No doubt he has fire in his belly to try and take the title here
40 - 44 Female
Stepping up to this age group is Port Mac local Melinda Cockshutt. She is fresh from celebrating her 40th birthday last year on the big island after a great performance at IMWA in 2013. As the “youngster” of this group and capable of a 55 minute swim – it is very likely she will be the early front runner.(read more here)
Monique Flores returns to Cains after finishing on the podium here last year. She has already put a strong performance together in Melbourne earlier in 2015 and her ability here depends on the build and taper following that event. It is certainly a difficult assignment to back up from that race only months ago.
Karen Moy also returns to Cairns after 4th last year. That day she had one of the fastest bike splits and would have been very close to exiting T2 in front of the pack before fading on the run. Will this be the year she holds form in the vital third leg to make the podium?
45 - 59 Male
Pay your money, get the tickets and sit back to watch this age group contest as it will be the highlight of all Ironman age groups.
Aaron Hill qualified for Kona in 2012 (DNS that year) and 2013
and has a strong swim leg so may lead the bunch in to T1. His finishing ability,
like many in this field, will be severely tested however.
Ricky Jeffs is also
making an appearance. The long-time supporter of Ironman events through his
Urban Hotel network, can certainly put together a quick swim/bike (he had a
lazy 4:42 bike split in Melbourne back in 2012 when the wind was howling). He
will be near the front of the field in to T2 but would also need to grow wings
to hold this position as it is a runner’s field.
Al Jefferson, won here last year by a full 6 minutes even after giving the rest of the field a chance with a 7 minute T2 (what were you doing in there Al?). Allan placed 11th in the 35-39 AG at Kona way back in 2006 and thus has a long pedigree. He has been sub-9:15 regularly and must be in contention if not our winner here.
Stephen Gage and Robbie Andrews we will mention together. Both made the podium at the recent Ultraman in
Noosa less than a month ago. For those uninitiated in this event, the 3 days
packs in a 10km swim, two rides (144.8km and 273.6km) and is followed by a
double marathon (yes 84km) on the final day. Stephen Gage ran 2 Marathons back
to back, both at 3hr 16minute pace and was 2nd outright. Robbie kept a similar
speed for the double marathon at 3hr 27minute pace placing 3rd. Gage also won IMNZ 2011
in the 40-44AG in 9hrs 10min and was 10th overall.(read more here)
The final contender is Darren Franken. He will be near the front of this field, has the swim/bike to be competitive, however with an inconsistent run, you never know which Darren will turn up? If he is on, there is not many better in this age group.
This is one of the strongest 45 – 49 fields outside of Hawaii we have ever seen. It will be won and lost in the final 10km of the day and worth watching every minute.
45 - 49 Female
Fresh from her 8 minute Ironman Australia win this year (and 45 minutes over third place), Belinda Ward looks to be in rare form. Is it possible to back up that effort barely 3 months later? We will see??
Another competitor to try and go back-to-back with events close together is WA’s Melina Townsend. She competed at IMNZ back in March and she too is registered to start in Cairns. A strong swim bike combination gave her a podium chance before losing a couple of places on the run that day. Can she capture the run speed to be a significant factor here after only 3 months between races?? Both of these athletes need to have had a great build to be in the money.
Mojca Mijovic has done plenty of travel and plenty of races. You only have to look at her past with podium positions in USA events back as far as 2008. She is a tough competitor and one to watch. Another with a long background is Fiona Lim. If our research is correct, she won her AG over 10 years ago at IM Malaysia.
Alison Coote however has shown her ability on this very course finishing second last year and will be our pick to beat in the 2015 edition. Conditions last year were mild and if she is able to handle what Cairns can throw up, and with course knowledge, she will be there at the finish.
50 - 54 Male
This age group could be a real battle between nations.
The local Queenslander with a 70.3 on his doorstep, Richard Goodger from Yeppoon, qualified in 2011 and 2012 for Kona and seems the quality to win here.(read more here)
He will be hotly tested however by Junya Yujiri from Japan. Junya has also visited the lava fields twice in 2009 and 2014. He also seems to be the man for the job.
Bathurst triathlete Terry Roberts joined the IM Aus Legends club after finishing his 10th IM Australia (read more here). He has received a permanent race number (259) for his loyalty to the event. He has also been to the World Championships and our winner should come from these three.
50 - 54 Female
Sarah Jane Blair (4th IMNZ 2014) is no stranger to Ironman. She has travelled from her native Kiwi land to try and steal away the main prize.
Merryn Truskett seems to be the one to beat however. Her podium in the 45-49 AG at Busselton IM in 2012 is still a display of her ability following qualification at Kona the year before. She has also graced the world stage at shorter distance. With over 20 years of experience and hailing from the Warringah Triathlon Club, she is our pick.
Western Australian Ruth Metcalf from the Pursuit coaching stable (ex Pro Mike Gee is the head coach) is the unknown quantity here. She has certainly shown glimpses of her talent but will need to be at her best to be a factor.
Karen Wilson also attempts to step up from 70.3 distance this year. Her solid performance from last year cannot be discounted.
55 - 59 Male
Ironman royalty graces this age group. Kevin Ferguson is well known throughout the country and is a World Champion at 3 different distances (in the same year). His “5 for 55” effort last year was to raise money for cancer research with a goal of winning 5 ironman events in a calendar year – which he did. Unless Kevin falls over he will win as he is the very pinnacle of this age group, demonstrated by his win by more than 30 minutes last year.
(read more here)
Perhaps scared by Kevin, none of last year’s top 10 are racing again this year.
Allan Moustoukas has travelled to Hawaii in 2012 running out of the CBD cycles stable. He is certainly capable of a podium in the field. Doug Robertson finished 2nd last year in Cairns but at 70.3 distance. Is he capable of stepping up to this length and still retaining the speed? We will wait to see.
Hiroshi Tsukamura is the dark horse here. He is well travelled and race ready. Any athlete with his run speed cannot be ignored – shown back in 2013 at IM Japan with a run leg that picked up 10 positions!
55 - 59 Female
Interesting that every competitor in this category has plenty of Ironman history. That means there are no easy picks for top honours as all of these girls know how to finish an Ironman event. It is a smaller field than the bumper crop from last year but rich in talent. Mary Mitchell was a standout athlete at IMWA and has qualified to go Big Island hopping before. She smashed out a 10:37 back in 2013 on that course, only being beaten on the day by world champion (and AG goddess) June Ward. She was not able to make the finish line at Busselton last December so hopefully she will be ready for this race.
Caron Mackie finished a solid 6th here last year and may be the only one with local course knowledge. We will give her the nod to finish on the podium behind Mary.
Catherine Fullford started IM back in 2011 and now has a better grasp on what is required. She is our tip to make up the placings.
60 - 64 Male
9 different nationalities are represented in this field which shows the cosmopolitan aspect of the Cairns location. It also makes it very difficult to pick winners.
Thomas Velena finished second back in 2010 at IMWA in the previous age group. That day he went 9:57. If he can go near that time, he is a chance to take the chocolates.
Robert Coulson has had a few good performances as well. He won a 70.3 race in the UK and a close second at IM South Africa both back in 2010. He will figure in the podium.
60 - 64 Female
Local Girl Sharman Parr (Team Tri Coaching) will again take on IM Cairns. If you have not heard of her by the time you leave the coral coast then you must have had your head in the sand. She had run out of fingers 5 years ago in counting the number of times she has qualified for the big dance and is quality…..period.
Karen Short is by no means a newbie anymore following her IM Melbourne in 2014. That day she missed the podium by a minute plus change after a full day of racing! She is the “youngster” in this category after moving up this year. Both women are well on their way to great finishes and will dominate the age group.
65 - 69 Male
A small field this year with only 4 starters. The Frenchman Marti Robert has plenty of racing background and also knows the way to the World Champs. He is the quality in this field and will win. Shuzo Sato will ensure Marti keeps focused but may struggle to hold the final speed required for the top spot.
70 - 74 Male
Shoji Nakano is the front runner here. His rise to the World Champs back in 2012 and the times he has displayed sets him as the favourite.
Griff Weste is no stranger to speed. He still holds the race record for the 60-64 category at IM New Zealand on the bike. Give that some thought……the fastest ever bike time in the history of that event (dating back 30 years) by a 60-64 age grouper!! You can not discount him based on that.
Ken Poole has won in South Africa but will have more competitors ready to take his top spot this race and Niel Gilbert showed promise in 2013 at IM Melbourne to finish 5th
Frank Fesche is our dark horse as he has not been spotted in IM circles since way back in 1997. He did however roll around in 2013 at Cairns but in the 70.3. Our big tip for the day is this Port Douglas local will compete for the podium.
75 - 79 Male
We have 2 entrants listed in this category and one will start the event. Fimiaki SATO was the fastest in his AG at IM Sweden back in 2012 (as a young 72 year old). That year he even picked up a bike sponsor!! He has been to Kona and is a true champion.
The second competitor Fusao Sekiya sadly passed away while run training for Cairns. He was well known in Cairns as the athlete who missed the 17 hour cut-off by just 31 seconds in 2013. We can report that he did finish last year with 8 minutes to spare and was presented with his cherished finisher’s medal. Our best wishes to his family.(read more here)
Paratriathlete
Rob Paterson is in a wheelchair following being hit by a semi-trailer while on a training ride on the Hume Highway. This is not his first attempt at an IM. That occurred back in 2013 at IMWA but he was unable to finish. He is the only athlete in this category and please cheer him on to try and complete the gruelling distance before the cut off times tick by.(read more here)
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