MARRIOTT SURVIVES SEMI-FINAL SCARE
Scarborough, WA, March 21: Australian Ironwoman champion Alicia Marriott almost saw her hopes of defending the title disappear under a dumping wave at the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Scarborough Beach today.
Marriott, hoping to win her second successive title in front of her home town Perth crowd, was dumped from her ski at the start of her semi-final and found herself in last place.
Showing all her champion's qualities, the 23-year-old gathered herself and set off in pursuit of the field although it wasn't until the second leg of the race, the swim, that she pulled herself back into a position from where she could safely qualify.
After the ski leg, Marriott was in 11 place, then in 8th after the swim and eventually finished the race in 7th to book her place in tomorrow's final.
"I couldn't believe it, I knew I was in a bit of trouble but I looked up and I was last," Marriot said.
"I'm happy to have made it through but I'll need to do a lot better tomorrow."
Marriott's semi-final was won by Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist Rebecca Creedy, who will be suited by the expected flat conditions for tomorrow's final.
Creedy won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games and winning a medal of a matching colour at Scarborough would be an amazing achievement.
She was followed across the line by Queenslander Courtney Hancock and NSW's Naomi Flood, two of the other strong challengers for gold.
The other semi-final was won by Hayley Bateup from Mariott's City of Perth teammate Candice Falzon.
Tomorrow's Ironman final is expected to be a showdown between the sport's two biggest names, defending champion Shannon Eckstein and his close rival Zane Holmes.
Both looked comfortable in their semi-finals, doing their best to avoid trouble and expend as little energy as possible ahead of the final.
The pair has had an exhausting schedule throughout the championships and Eckstein and Homes have each won four gold medals heading into the final day's action.
"With so many events, it's really about conserving energy and just making sure you qualify," Eckstein said.
"Come the final everyone will be going flat out from the gun."
Eckstein will be chasing his fourth open Ironman title tomorrow, an achievement that would put him level with surf legend Grant Kenny, while Holmes' sole national title came in 2004.
"I've only won the one iron man title, I'd love to get another but when you are up against someone like Shannon who never makes a mistake its tough," Holmes said.
Veteran Ironman Dean Mercer, at age 39, has won in every round of this year's competition to qualify for the final, 20 years after winning his first title.
Ironman Final Start List: Hayden Allum (Cronulla) Zane Holmes (Northcliffe) Wes Berg (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) Corey Jones (Met Caloundra) Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe) Dean Mercer (Mooloolaba) Trent Martin (Macmasters Beach) Phillip Clayton (Kurrawa) Caine Eckstein (Tugun) Nathan Smith (Northcliffe) Matt Poole (Mooloolaba) Pierce Leonard (Northcliffe) James Stewart (North Burleigh) Hayden Smith (North Burleigh) Daniel Moodie (Northcliffe) Luke Nisbet (Northcliffe)
Ironwoman Final Start List: Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) Allira Richardson (Maroochydore) Brodie Moir (North Burleigh) Candice Falzon (City Of Perth) Elizabeth Pluimers (Northcliffe) Gemma Newbiggin(Mooloolaba) Katie Graham (Northcliffe) Alicia Marriott (City Of Perth) Amanda Hey (Northcliffe) Rebecca Creedy (Met Caloundra) Flora Manciet (Northcliffe) Terri Sullivan (Kurrawa) Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) Casey Leo-Litzow (Northcliffe) Naomi Flood (Manly) Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe)