JETT KENNY AND JORDAN MERCER CONTINUE IRONMAN TRADITIONS
The names Kenny and Mercer have been synonymous with Australian Surf Life Saving for more than five decades and those names will keep on keeping at this weekend’s Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Trials at Noosa Heads.
Grant Kenny and his father, original Ironman champion Hayden Kenny along with brothers Darren and Dean Mercer reached legendary status in Australian Ironman racing.
Now the next generation, Grant’s son Jett Kenny and Darren’s daughter Jordan Mercer are following in their famous father’s footsteps.
Now the next generation, Grant’s son Jett Kenny and Darren’s daughter Jordan Mercer are following in their famous father’s footsteps.
They are among more than 100 Ironmen and Ironwomen from all over Australia who will converge on Noosa Heads for two days of intensive trialling as they vie for seven men’s and seven women’s positions up for grabs in this year’s Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series.
The successful qualifiers will join last year’s Top Ten in the 2011-12 Series.
And the next generation will be out in full force, keeping their peers and some of the golden oldies on their toes.
Jett Kenny, at 16, a budding young soccer star on the Sunshine Coast, will make his first foray into the elite world of Ironman racing while Jordan, 17, will be attempting to qualify for her second professional Series.
Darren Mercer, the Head Coach at Noosa Heads, is excited to have the likes of Jett and daughter Jordan, who recently won the World Paddleboard Championship across the Molokai Channel, in his squad.
“They are both great kids, who just love competing and it’s a pleasure to have them as part of our group,” said Mercer.
“It’s probably not easy being who they are but they both take it in their stride and they bounce off each other really well.”
Mercer admitted Jett was in two minds about entering the Trial because of his dedication to soccer but has entered to gain experience for the future.
“Jett is full on into his soccer at this time of the year and plays in his age group as well as in the seniors so he has not done as much training as the others but he knows we’re keeping things in perspective and it’s for the experience,” said Mercer.
“As for Jordan, she knows she will have to be on her game. It’s going to be a difficult task in a competitive field of women but she has done the work.”
Having experienced Ironmen for dads can have its advantages especially when you go ski paddling in big seas and howling 30 knot winds, like last week at Noosa.
“There was just the four of us and another paddler Nick Kirby and it really was a case of the ‘masters and the apprentices’ in a day they won’t forget in a hurry, it was wild and windy but they did well” said Mercer.
Grant Kenny, away in Western Australia on business this week, won’t miss Jett’s weekend for the world and travels home tonight and will join Darren on the beach tomorrow morning.
Saturday’s action gets under way at 8am with round one with the men’s heats followed by the women; with round two scheduled for 12 noon. The top 20 qualifiers (based on points) will go through to Sunday’s final at 8am with the women’s race first, followed by the men.
2011 KELLOGG’S NUTRI-GRAIN IRONMAN TRIALLISTS
MEN::
QUEENSLAND
SUNSHINE COAST
Mooloolaba (9): Josh Minogue, Jack Hansen, Alex Tibbits, Matt Bevilacqua, Cam Cole, Dylan Newbiggin, Nic Anderson, Alex Tibbitts, Tyler Maxwell,
Metropolitan Caloundra (1): Corey Jones
Noosa Heads (3): Steve Pullen, Mackenzie Hynard, Jett Kenny
GOLD COAST
Currumbin (1): Jackson Maynard
Kurrawa (5): Phil Clayton, Chris Moors, Luke Cuff, Ollie Puddick, Ryan Lysaught
Northcliffe (10): Cory Hill, Michael Booth, Tanyn Lyndon, Lucas Allan, Jake Nicholson, Max Beattie (Omanu, NZ), Ben Hepburn, Daniel Nelson, Jarryd McDonnell, Nick O’Hare, Trent Goulding
Tugun (3): Sam Hamilton, Sean Kelly, Tim Peach
Nth Burleigh (3): James Stewart, Thomas Trembath, Sam Marris
Burleigh Heads Mowbray-Park (1): Wade Krieger
Surfers Paradise (1): Zac Orchard
NSW
ILLAWARRA
Bulli (2): Oscar Bradley, Mitchell Fagerstrom (NZ)
Warrilla Barrack Point (3): Rhett Russell, Ben Carberry, Hayden White
SYDNEY
Cronulla (2): Dean Simpson, Mark Simpson
Wanda (1): Dane Farrell
North Cronulla (1): William Budd
SYDNEY NORTHERN BEACHES
Collaroy (1): Kendrick Louis;
Newport (1): Max Brooks
Queenscliff (1): Tom Atkinson
CENTRAL COAST
Avoca Beach (1): Trent Martin
Terrigal (2): Ed Gourlay, Jack Moyes
FAR NORTH COAST
Cudgen Headland (1): Jarrad Cain
Lennox Head (1): Nathan Gray
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
City of Perth (2): Tom Dowling, Joshua Maurice
Scarboro (1): Andrew Mosel
Sorrento (1): Alex Nash
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Port Noarlunga (1): Sam Fuller
Grange (2): Zac Jessup, Nic Roger
WOMEN::
QUEENSLAND
SUNSHINE COAST
Mooloolaba (6): Danielle Allen, Kelly-Ann Perkins, Aimee Berridge (Mt Maunganui, NZ), Claire Harris, Maddy Dunn, Teisha Jenkins
Noosa Heads (1): Jordan Mercer
Metropolitan Caloundra (1): Stephanie Cronin
Maroochydore (1): Jean Harris
Kawana (1): Kirsty Holmes
GOLD COAST
Northcliffe (4): Jess Walker, Harriet Brown, Katie Graham, Casey Leo-Litzow
Tallebudgera (1): Tenille Devine
North Burleigh (5): Alyce Bennett, Olivia Hall, Hayley Lemarseny, Sheree Merryfull, Sam Johnston
Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (2): Miranda Davies, Kate Walker
Surfers Paradise (1): Peta Newbold
Tugun (1): Bernadette Wallace
Kurrawa (2): Larnee Stuart, Crystal Maruna
NSW
ILLAWARRA
Warilla Barrack Point (1): Maddison Prior
Bulli (1): Hannah Minogue
SYDNEY
Maroubra (2): Tara Coleman, Tatum Lawler
Wanda (1): Tahnee Fleming
SYDNEY NORTHERN BEACHES
Manly (2): Candice Falzon, Devon Halligan
Freshwater (1): Jessie O’Carroll
Queenscliff (2): Briella Brown, Alisha Miller
HUNTER
Swansea Belmont (1): Nikki Chapman
CENTRAL COAST
Terrigal (5): Joanna Baxter, Elyssia Gasparotto, Alicia Bain, Lauren Hall, Jessica Davis
FAR NORTH COAST
Byron Bay (1): Shannon Hulbert-Green
TASMANIA
Carlton Park (1): Allie Britton