Shannon Eckstein won a record-equalling fifth Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman title at North Cronulla today while Alicia Marriott became the first woman to win the triple crown of the sport’s major events.
Eckstein (Northcliffe) and Marriott (Mooloolaba) emerged from the energy-sapping, hot conditions to claim the overall titles in the $250,000 series.
Eckstein, the defending champion, won a furious sprint to the finish ahead of his nearest challenger in the series, Hugh Dougherty, to secure a comfortable eight-point margin in the series pointscore.
Corey Jones (Metropolitan Caloundra), who was inches away from being eliminated in the first race of today’s three-race ‘Eliminator’ format, pulled out his best performance of the season to place third.
Olympic swimmer Ky Hurst (Kurrawa) capped his return to Ironman racing with fifth place in the final and third overall in the series behind Eckstein and Dougherty.
2010 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series Final: North Cronulla
Round 5Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe) Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) Corey Jones (Met Caloundra) Nathan Smith (Northcliffe) Ky Hurst (Kurrawa) Rhys Drury (Dicky Beach) Peirce Leonard (Northcliffe) Alaistar Day (Warilla-Barrack Point) Josh Blair (Swansea Belmont) Dylan Newbiggin (Mooloolaba)
Men
Women
Elizabeth Pluimers (Northcliffe) Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe) Alicia Marriott(Mooloolaba) Allira Richardson (Mooloolaba) Naomi Flood (Manly) Maddison Prior (Warilla-Barrack Point) Rebecca Creedy (Met Caloundra) Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) Amy Nurthen (Terrigal)
Series Pointscore
Men
Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe) 119 Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) 111 Ky Hurst (Kurrawa) 97 Rhys Drury (Dicky Beach) 90 Corey Jones (Met Caloundra) 88 Alaistar Day (Warilla-Barrack Point) 82 Nathan Smith (Northcliffe) 81 Peirce Leonard (Northcliffe) 79 Dylan Newbiggin (Mooloolaba) 67 Matt Poole (Mooloolaba) 64 Cory Hill (Northcliffe) 56 Sam Hamilton (Tugun) 55 Chris Allum (Cronulla) 51 James Stewart (North Burleigh) 44 Mark Simpson (Cronulla) 40 Jono Stock (Manly) 29 Daniel Moodie (Northcliffe) 26 Josh Blair (Swansea Belmont) 24 Hayden Allum (Cronulla) 12 Alex Tibbits (Mooloolaba) 11 Mitchell Miller (Mooloolaba) 11 Josh Minogue (Mooloolaba) 8 Hayden White (Warilla-Barrack Point) 6 Cameron Gordon (Northcliffe) 5 Sam Hunt (North Burleigh) 4
Women
Alicia Marriott (Mooloolaba) 106 Elizabeth Pluimers (Northcliffe) 103 Naomi Flood (Manly) 100 Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) 98 Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) 98 Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe) 97 Rebecca Creedy (Met Caloundra) 75 Allira Richardson (Mooloolaba) 64 Amy Nurthen (Terrigal) 62 Brodie Moir (North Burleigh) 61 Gemma Newbiggin (Mooloolaba) 61 Terri Sullivan (Northcliffe) 58 Bonnie Hancock (Northcliffe) 55 Flora Manciet (Northcliffe) 41 Sheree Merryful (Northcliffe) 38 Alyce Bennett (North Burleigh) 36 Maddison Prior (Warilla-Barrack Point) 28 Harriet Brown (Northcliffe) 21 Kelly-Ann Perkins (Met Caloundra) 20 Katie Graham (Northcliffe) 18 Casey Leo-Litzow (Northcliffe) 10 Tara Coleman (Maroubra) 6 Jessica Walker (Northcliffe) 4
Photographer: www.petersollner.com
Image: © blk1 2010. All rights reserved.
