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Australia’s Angela Milne will face one of her toughest challenges this Sunday as she attempts to defend her Soul Ironman Western Australia Triathlon title against a quality women’s field all eager to wrestle it from her.
The Riverton based mother of one battled glandular fever back in August and ordered complete rest for four weeks.
“It’s so rare to be able to race at home in front of friends and family so I’m doing everything I can to prepare,” said Milne
Australia’s Jo King is making no big predictions for her comeback to triathlon after a three year absence from the sport.
The 1996 world junior and 1998 world champion says she needed to take a break from the sport in 2003 after failing to recover from plantar fasciitis which also shattered any chance of making the team for Athens.
King was delivered another blow just days after her painful foot injury diagnosis when a grade two melanoma on her lower back was discovered.
Despite the setbacks the 30 year old King has been back in training since August and gunning for a top three spot at Busselton.
“I’d love to qualify for Hawaii but with only one spot available it’ll be really tough.” King said. “Plan B will be to qualify at Port Macquarie.”
Expect to see outstanding performances from local hopefuls, Kate Bevilaqua and Jo Bennett who will take a hometown advantage into the event.
2006 Ironman Brazil winner and European long course champion Swizterland’s Lisbeth Kristensen will be a major player this year heading into the event.
34 year old Kristensen who bases herself on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with partner Andrew Johns for part of the year will be out to break the Australian girl’s dominance.
Kristensen placed 11th in Hawaii this year after suffering dehydration in the final stages of the run after holding down second spot she is keen to end 2006 on a winning note.
The men’s race is shaping up between Australian’s Mitch Anderson, the defending champion and fellow Victorian Luke Bell arguably in the best shape of his career after a seventh place in Hawaii and numerous Ironman 70.3 wins across the US.
The challenges will come from former Ironman Western Australia champion Jason Shortis, Australia’s most consistent performers.
The UK’s Andrew Johns is hoping to improve on his fifth place at this years’ Panthers Australian Ironman Triathlon and stand on the podium
This Sunday marks the third Soul Ironman Western Australian Triathlon in Busselton and is a qualifying race for the 2007 Ironman World Championships (Hawaii) and the Ironman Australia Triathlon at Port Macquarie on April 1, 2007
The event has attracted nearly 850 competitors from 33 countries who have made the trek to one of Australia’s ideal tourist destinations to compete and enjoy the delights that Busselton has to offer.
Competitors will tackle the ultimate endurance test (3.8km swim, 180km cycle, 42.2km run). Ironman Western Australia will take place at Barnard Park on Sunday December 3, 2006 from 6am.
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