Posted: October 11, 2004

Triathlon: Australians ready to take on the world

The Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona will take place next week on Saturday October 16, 2004 with five Australians expected to feature in the top 10 in both the male and female events.

Queensland’s Kate Major and Sydney’s Belinda Granger finished in the top 10 at last year’s event placing ninth and 10th respectively. However after a year of excellent results around the world the pair’s expectations are now a lot higher. Granger finished second at both the Snap Ironman Australia triathlon and the Roth Challenge in Germany prompting the former teacher to turn professional and race full-time. Granger has been based in San Diego preparing for Hawaii with 1997 Ironman champion Heather Fuhr.

Major has also been in San Diego and after a stellar performance at Ironman Lake Placid which saw Major claim victory in record time holding off Granger’s training partner, Fuhr, a four time winner of the Lake Placid event. Major whose bike leg is her strength is expected to improve dramatically on her ninth place from last year.

Chris McCormack who has just confirmed he will attempt to win his fourth consecutive Snap Ironman Australia title in Forster in April, has spent the last part of the American summer in Bend, Oregon preparing for the one race that has ‘challenged’ his remarkable ability. Venturing onto the winners podium immediately on his Ironman debut, McCormack has had to spend the past two years in Kona learning about the Hawaii Ironman and the intensity of the event with a DNF and a 9.24 finishing time. Determined to improve McCormack has taken a similar approach to his training that saw him break the eight –hour barrier earlier this year.

Victoria’s Chris Legh’s form has taken a remarkable turn for the best winning his second Ironman title at Ironman Coeur D’Alene this past July. Struggling to fine form because of a series of injuries and illnesses, Legh’s luck seemed to change in April placing second at the Snap Ironman Australia triathlon. His season continued with Legh winning virtually every race he entered in the USA. Having placed sixth and eighth previously in Hawaii in 1998 and 1999, Legh’s knowledge of the race will see him become one of the key contenders on race day.

Luke Bell has yet to win an Ironman event, however the 25 year olds fifth placing at last years Hawaii Ironman stamps him as one of next Saturday’s favourites. An excellent swimmer, Bell will find himself at the front of the race virtually from the start and hopes that another year of endurance training will see him improve on last years position. After placing second at Ironman Lake Placid earlier in the year, Bell returned home to Australia to complete his training on the Gold Coast with Cam Brown and Jason Shortis.

So, with less than a week to go until one of the most anticipated Hawaii Ironman events the Australian contingent looks ready to play a major part of the outcome in both the men’s and women’s race.