ECKSTEIN TIPS DEANO TO MASTER THE KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN TRIAL
December 3: Reigning champion Shannon Eckstein has declared "the old master" Dean Mercer as the man to beat in this weekend's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Trial at Tugun on the Gold Coast.
The four-time champion has kept a close eye on the 40-year-old Mercer throughout his arduous off-season preparation for the nib Coolangatta Gold, which saw him push the limits in Ironman racing's toughest test.
Mercer went on to record his best ever result - second to Eckstein's brother Caine, who won a record third Gold in record time.
Shannon and Mercer have been regular training partners under Northcliffe maestro Pat O'Keefe and along with a host of youngsters, Mercer will line up vying for one of 11 places on offer in this season's $250,000 Series.
It is a Series which has almost spanned 20 years and a Series which has become synonymous with the Mercer name and if Dean gets his way the new lease of life is about to continue.
"Dean is the man to beat - no doubt about it," said Eckstein, who will spend next week participating in Channel 7s "Australia's Greatest Athlete" at Couran Cove.
"I have watched him prepare for the Coolangatta Gold and dedicate himself to training and he looks amazing - he just keeps getting better with age.
"Of the other guys at Northcliffe I think Cory Hill can easily go top five - his performance to finish fourth in the Coolangatta Gold was a great effort and I think he is ready to break through.
"The other one to keep an eye on and he should qualify is New Zealand champion Daniel Moodie, who didn't do the Gold but contested the World Games in Taiwan and won the board race.
"He's a three-time New Zealand Ironman Champion who will be hard to keep out of the top 11 qualification."
The weekend's action starts at 8am on Saturday with the round one M Shape course, followed by the round two short course iron man and the Sunday morning short course round three at 7.30am.
It is shaping to be the most competitive Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Trial in recent years with four-time Australian Ironman Champion Ky Hurst joined by experienced trio Wes Berg, Hugh Dougherty and Tim Peach, as well as the likes of Chris and Hayden Allum and Kendrick Louis.
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The women's Trial will see three-time nib Coolangatta Gold winner Hayley Bateup from Kurrawa chasing a spot in the Series alongside the likes of Alyce Bennett (North Burleigh), Bonnie Hancock (Northcliffe), Rebecca Creedy (Metropolitan Caloundra), Chelsea Mckenzie (Tugun), Flora Manciett (Northcliffe), Chloe Jones (Met Caloundra), Candice Falzon (City of Perth), Brodie Moir (North Burleigh) and Terri Sullivan (Northcliffe).
There are 22 places (11 men and 11 women) up for grabs from the Trial and along with the two selectors wildcards (one male and one female) will join the 12 (six men and six women) qualifiers from last year's Series.
Four final positions (two male and two female) that will make up the 20 strong final field will be decided in special Trials before the first, third and the final rounds.
KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN IRONMAN SERIES TRIAL FORMAT
Saturday (8am):
Round one:
Men - HEATS and SEMI-FINALS (M Shaped course - swim, ski, board - approx 25mins)
A & B FINALS (20 into each final)
Women - HEATS (M Shaped course - swim, ski, board - approx 25mins)
A & B FINALS (20 into each final)
Round two (Afternoon - one hour after conclusion of morning session):
Men - HEATS and SEMI-FINALS (Short Course Ironman - board, swim, ski)
A & B FINALS (20 in each final)
Women - HEATS (Short Course Ironman - board, swim, ski)
A & B FINALS (20 into each final)
Sunday (7:30am)
Round three:
Men - HEATS and SEMI-FINALS (Short Course Ironman - ski, board, swim)
A & B FINALS (20 into each final)
Women - HEATS and SEMI-FINALS (Short Course Ironman - ski, board, swim)
A & B FINALS (20 into each final).
POINTSCORE
The point-score will be awarded to competitors 40-1 out of each of the A / B finals throughout the weekend: A finalists receive 40-21 points (40 for 1st place, 21 for 20th place) and B finalists receive 20-1 point (20 for 1st place, 1 for 20th place)
Places in the 2010 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series will be determined by the point-score at the end of the competition, e.g. it is the highest point-score which gains the top position and then the subsequent positions will be in descending order.
There will be 11 male and 11 female positions in the 2010 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series that will be filled using results at this event. National selectors will select a further one (1) male and one (1) female as wildcards on the Monday following the Trial.