Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist
Rebecca Creedy has stamped herself as an Ironwoman of the future after winning the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series Trial at Tugun today.
The 26-year-old, who won gold alongside
Susie O’Neill,
Sarah Ryan and
Lori Munz in the 4x100m freestyle relay in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, now has the likes of defending champion
Naomi Flood,
Kristyl Smith and
Alicia Marriott in her sights.
Creedy finished with a first, a second and a seventh from the three rounds to finish on 113 points, one point ahead of three-time nib Coolangatta Gold winner
Hayley Bateup (112) and today’s third round winner
Flora Manciet (Northcliffe).
The top 11 on the pointscore qualified to join the first six from last year for the $250,000 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series which kicks off at Kurrawa on January 16 and 17.
And Creedy, who had a taste of the Series in 2009, wants to stamp herself as a real contender for 2010.
“I came here determined to make a name for myself after putting in a lot of effort in the off season and for the first time I am confident about my ability as an ironwoman,” said Creedy.
“I feel like I have finally made the transition from a swimmer and I can’t wait to get in and race the best girls in the Series.
“I finished last in the first two rounds of the Series last year so I am proud of where I have come from that’s for sure.”
Today’s third round men’s final saw Beijing Olympian
Ky Hurst continue on his winning ways to take out the second of his two finals over the weekend to assure himself of a place in the main draw.
But it was 2007 Coolangatta Gold winner
Rhys Drury, at 32, who shaded Hurst by a point over the three rounds, 116 to 115 with Tugun’s surprise packet
Sam Hamilton (110) in third place.
Hurst, Drury and Hamilton will now do battle with the big guns of Surf Sports, defending champion
Shannon Eckstein,
Zane Holmes ,
Matt Poole,
Nathan Smith and
Pierce Leonard in what is shaping up to be the most intriguing men’s Series for many years.
“I will need a full month’s training to ensure I’ll be ready for the first round and even then I could well find myself a bit short,” said Hurst.
“I made a few mistakes in the second round yesterday because I was getting tired and I know I have a lot of work to do between now and the opening rounds.
“But I an excited to be back and inspired by people like Dean Mercer and Rhys Drury. If Deano can do what he’s doing at 40, then I’ve got nothing to complain about at 28.”
Surf Life Saving Australia selectors will decide on the first two wildcards during the week with Mercer withdrawing from today’s round with a torn calf muscle and Wes Berg, suffered glandular fever, both applying for the men’s wildcard position.
North Burleigh’s
James Stewart, who is coached by Berg, will also be in the wildcard hunt after missing out on 11th place after tying with Manly’s Jono Stock.
The women’s wildcard options will lie with Kurrawa’s
Jasmin Kelly, who was fourth in this year’s Coolangatta Gold and contested the Dubai Ski race last week as well as the 12th and 13th and 14 th placed in the weekend’s overall pointscore,
Madison Boon (Kurrawa),
Tara Coleman (Maroubra) and
Chloe Jones (Metropolitan Caloundra).
RESULTS:
2010 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Trial: Day 2: Gold Coast: Finals: Men: Traditional Ironman: Ky Hurst (Kurrawa) Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) Rhys Drury (Dicky Beach) Chris Allum (Cronulla) Sam Hamilton (Tugun) Cory Hill (Northcliffe) Alastair Day (Warrilla Barrack Point) Dane Farrell (Elouera) Jack Hansen (Mooloolaba) James Stewart (North Burleigh)
Men Qualifiers: Rhys Drury (Dicky Beach) 116 Ky Hurst (Kurrawa) 115 Sam Hamilton (Tugun) 110 Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) 109 Chris Allum (Cronulla) 97 Cory Hill (Northcliffe) 96 Alastair Day (Warilla-Barrack Point) 96 Dylan Newbiggin (Mooloolaba) 90 Daniel Moodie (Northcliffe) 87 Mark Simpson (Cronulla) 85 Jono Stock (Manly) 84
Women: Traditional Ironwoman: Flora Manciet (Northcliffe) Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) Madison Boon (Kurrawa) Sheree Merryfull (Northcliffe) Allira Richardson (Mooloolaba) Terri Sullivan (Northcliffe) Rebecca Creedy (Metropolitan Caloundra) Amy Nurthen (Terrigal) Bonnie Hancock (Northcliffe) Maddison Prior (Warrilla Barrack Point)
Women Qualifiers: Rebecca Creedy (Metropolitan Caloundra) 113 Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) 112 Flora Manciet (Northcliffe) 111 Sheree Merryfull (Northcliffe ) 105 Allira Richardson (Mooloolaba) 103 Amy Nurthen (Terrigal) 103 Bonnie Hancock (Northcliiffe) 103 Terri Sullivan (Northcliffe) 99 Brodie Moir (North Burleigh) 98 Katie Graham (Northcliffe) 93 Alyce Bennett (North Burleigh) 85
TV NEWS FEED
Channel Seven Brisbane will gateway a newsfeed on Sunday, December 6 at 3:30pm (QLD Time).
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SHOT LIST
Item 1 - Zoom back from Gold Coast skyline
Item 2 - KNGIS Flag
Item 3 - Generic ski start
Item 4 - Bonnie Hancock left, Courtney Hancock right pre race final
Item 5 - Hayley Bateup blows into ski
Item 6 - Bonnie Hancock stretching
Item 7 - Flora Manciet left, Sheree Merryfull right pre race
Item 8 - Alyce Bennett stretching
Item 9 - Rebecca Creedy tilt up
Item 10 - Tight shot pre race start on skis
Item 11 - Race start
Item 12 - Tight shot Bonnie Hancock right, Alyce Bennett left
Item 13 - Hayley Bateup ski
Item 14 - Sheree Merryful end of ski
Item 15 - Haylet Bateup and Flora Manciet runs up beach
Item 16 - Sheree Merryful and Flora Manciet board pickup
Item 17 - Rebecca Creedy ski finish, run up beach
Item 18 - Hayley Bateup on board pan to Sheree Merryful and run up beach
Item 19 - Hayley Bateup and Sheree Merryful enter swim leg
Item 20 - Flora Manciet out of board leg
Item 21 - Flora Manciet on bodysurfing wave
Item 22 - Flora Manciet crosses line followed by Hayley Bateup
Item 23 - Rebecca Creedy race finish
Item 24 - Rebecca Creedy interview
Item 25 - Hayley Bateup interview
Item 26 - Athlete ski paddle
Item 27 - Tilt up Andrew Mosel
Item 28 - Hugh Dougherty blows into ski
Item 29 - Rhys Drury pre race
Item 30 - Mark Simpson pre race
Item 31 - Ky Hurst stretch pre race
Item 32 - Athletes walk skis into water
Item 33 - Ski start and wide
Item 34 - Pan ski paddlers
Item 35 - Rhys Drury start board leg
Item 36 - Men's board leg entry
Item 37 - Ky Hurst paddles board
Item 38 - Hugh Dougherty paddles board
Item 39 - Hugh Dougherty into swim leg
Item 40 - Sam Hamilton into swim leg followed by Ky Hurst
Item 41 - Ky Hurst bodysurfs wave
Item 42 - Ky Hurst crosses finish line
Item 43 - Hugh Dougherty crosses line followed by Rhys Drury
Item 44 - Generic cross line
Item 45 - Ky Hurst Interview
Item 46 - Rhys Drury Interview