ECKSTEIN AND MARRIOTT CLAIM NUTRI-GRAIN SERIES TITLES

February 21: 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 and Mariott emerged in 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.

His fifth series victory matches the performance of his arch-rival Zane Holmes, who missed this year's racing because of a back injury.

Eckstein was happiest to have won four of the five races in this year's series.

"That's pretty cool," he said.

Marriott added the Kellogg's Nutri Grain Series to the Australian Ironwoman crown she won in 2008 and two Coolangatta Gold titles to become the first female competitor to claim a full set of the sport's top titles.

Elizabeth Pluimers won today's women's final but Marriott's fourth placing was enough to give her the overall title after series leader Hayley Bateup struck trouble at the start of the deciding race and slipped back to finish ninth.