Posted: September 29, 2004

Triathlon: Shortis and Keat to line up at the Cannibal Half Ironman

Round Five, Ironman Australia Qualifying Series
Cannibal Half Ironman
Coomera Waters, Gold Coast, Queensland
Sunday October 3 2004

The Ironman Australia Qualifying Series continues onto Round Five this Sunday October 3, for the Cannibal Half Ironman triathlon at Coomera Waters, on the Gold Coast, Queensland. 100 qualifying slots for the Snap Ironman Australia triathlon are up for grabs as aspiring Ironman athletes attempt to secure a position at the starting line of the 2005 Snap Ironman Australia triathlon on April 3.

Headlining the event will be the Gold Coast’s Jason Shortis who won the title last year. Shortis, one of the country’s most consistent performers, will enter the half Ironman as favourite and will be racing against young local Luke McKenzie whose focus has switched from short-course racing to the Ironman. McKenzie has entered his first Ironman event, Ironman Western Australia in Busselton and will look to use the Cannibal Half Ironman as a test event. Nick Saunders, winner of the Yeppoon Half Ironman has also entered along with Darren Franken from Victoria, while Matt Clarke who’s fresh from a stint in the USA will also be on the starting line.

In the women’s race reigning champion Rebekah Keat is also set to defend her title. A multi-winner of half Ironman events around the world and undefeated in her last 10 outings over the distance, Keat has also decided to race her first Ironman in WA. The young Gold Coast-based athlete recently won the Yeppoon Half Ironman in August and will be racing against Ironman champion, New Zealand’s Karyn Ballance, who will also be lining up in Western Australia. The two athletes will now have a chance on the Gold Coast to assess each other’s form.

Cairns Half Ironman winner Carolyn Cooksley will also be on the starting line hoping to take away Keat’s crown as will Japan’s Yoko Okuda who is currently training and living on the Gold Coast.

660 athletes racing as individuals or as part of a team have registered for the event held at the newly established Coomera Waters near Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.

For more information on the Cannibal Half Ironman Triathlon contact: Lisa Pringle on 0417 005 743 or email lisa@usmsport.com.

For more information on the Ironman Australia Qualifying Series contact: Shane Smith on 0433 148 734
Samantha Cairncross on 0413 706 425
Email: ironmanozmedia@yahoo.com.au.

For more information on the 2005 Snap Ironman Australia Triathlon, please contact:
Ironman Australia Race Office - Ken and Glenda Baggs
Telephone: +61 2 6554 7188 Facsimile: +61 2 6555 5208
Email: admin@ironmanoz.com