FLOODGATES OPEN FOR $100,000 NUTRI-GRAIN FINALS AT NORTH CRONULLA
February 20: Naomi Flood is hoping to time her finish to perfection when she lines up to defend her Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironwoman title at North Cronulla tomorrow.
Flood, who broke through for her maiden Series win last year, is within striking distance of leaders Hayley Bateup and Alicia Marriott in what is shaping up to be a cracking finale to this year's Series.
The 23-year-old has 70 points, just four points shy of three-time Coolangatta Gold winner Bateup (74) and two behind former Australian champion Marriott (72), who won last year's Coolangatta Gold.
Sunday's double points "Eliminator" format will see 20 women and then 20 men start, before it is narrowed down to 15 and then 10 for the final.
The men's field sees four-time winner Shannon Eckstein six points clear on 79 from
Hugh Dougherty (73), Ky Hurst (65), Rhys Drury (60), Alaistar Day (56), Corey Jones (52),
There is over $100,000 on the line all up with $64,800 to be divided between the overall top 12 men and the top 12 women and $37,000 up for grabs for the two finals - $18,300 each.
To win every race on Sunday in the men's and women's races is worth $11,000 - $2,500 to win race one; $2,500 for race two and $6,000 for the final - with the overall Series winner taking away $12,000.
"It's a matter of saving my best till last, I guess," said Manly's Flood, who admits she can tend to get too excited too early.
"I have started out really well in the early rounds and just need to ensure I have plenty in the tank for the final.
"The racing this season has been amazing - the standard in the women's field is easily the best it has ever been and you make one false move and someone will be there to pounce."
Flood has not finished better than second or worse than fifth and she will have to beat Bateup by three places and Marriott by two places to seal the Series.
If Flood wins the final ahead of Bateup and Marriott - she will finish second to Bateup overall with Marriott third.
But if Flood wins the final ahead of Marriott and Bateup - there will be a triple dead-heat - with Flood defending her crown with the final win.
Victory for Bateup or Marriott will make them the first women to win all three majors - the coveted Australian Championship, the Coolangatta Gold and the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series.
Victory for Marriott will give her a shot at becoming the first person to win the triple crown in one season, after she broke Bateup's stranglehold on the Gold last year.
It would certainly add create enormous interest in the lead up to this year's Whereis® Australian Championships at Kurrawa from March 16-21.
If there is one smokey in the field with plenty to prove on Sunday then it is Northcliffe's former Cronulla local Kristyl Smith, who had a "shocker" in round four at Alexandra Headlands where she finished 18th - after winning round three, finishing second in round two and third in round one.
Smith, who will be a home town favourite, is sitting sixth on the pointscore on 60 points and needs a strong performance to qualify for a contract in 2011.
KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN IRONMAN SERIES - Progressive pointscore after round 4:
MEN - Shannon Eckstein 79 Hugh Dougherty 73 Ky Hurst 65 Rhys Drury 60 Alaistar Day 56 Corey Jones 52 Pierce Leonard 51 Nathan Smith 47 Dylan Newbiggin 45 Matt Poole 44 Cory Hill 42 Chris Allum 41 Sam Hamilton 39 James Stewart 36 Jono Stock 25 Daniel Moodie 24 Mark Simpson 22 Alex Tibbits 11 Mitchell Miller 11 Josh Minogue 8 Cameron Gordon 5 Samuel Hunt 4
WOMEN - Hayley Bateup 74 Alicia Marriott 72 Naomi Flood 70 Elizabeth Pluimers 63 Courtney Hancock 61 Kristyl Smith 60 Rebecca Creedy 49 Terri Sullivan 46 Bonnie Hancock 45 Brodie Moir 43 Gemma Newbiggin 41 Amy Nurthen 40 Flora Manciet 33 Allira Richardson 32 Alyce Bennett 22 Sheree Merryful 22 Kelly-Anne Perkins 20 Harriet Brown 17 Katie Graham 16 Casey Leo-Litzow 10 Jessica Walker 4