Sweet 16 and ready to give it a go

DANIELLE Allen says she never really had a burning desire to contest the Coolangatta Gold.

Alexandra Headland’s Danielle Allen will contest the Coolangatta Gold and the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series. Picture: Brett Wortman

DANIELLE Allen says she never really had a burning desire to contest the Coolangatta Gold.

But after reaching the minimum age requirement, 16, earlier this year, the Matthew Flinders Anglican College student thought she might as well give it a go.

Allen, who scored a wildcard entry to the upcoming Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series, will line up in the Gold at Kurrawa on November 7 as part of a small open women’s field.

While her main goal is to just complete the 30.5km endurance race, Allen is hopeful of finishing in the top seven.

“I hadn’t really considered doing it, because it’s such a hard event,” she said.

“But I started training harder and I thought if I have bothered to train all these hours then it’s worth having a go.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m too confident for it or anything, but I’d like to finish in the top seven or 10.

“That would be a realistic goal. That’d be good.”

Allen trains at Alexandra Headland and is the only open women’s competitor from her club.

With Mooloolaba’s defending champion Alicia Marriott and other contenders such as Elizabeth Pluimers set to contest the race, Allen said it would be a hard task taking on some of the country’s best athletes.

“It’s a bit daunting lining up against the big names that have won it before,” she said.

“There’s not as much pressure on me, but it’s a bit more nerve-wracking.

“But once I get there, it’ll be like any other race against any other competitors.”

Allen said she had never previously raced such a long distance and her biggest challenge would be the ski leg.

“Comparatively, the ski leg is a lot longer than any of the other legs,” she said.

“I only started using a ski recently too, so hopefully the conditions aren’t too challenging.

“That’ll be the hardest. The run, swim and board aren’t too hard and you’re on the way home, so they shouldn’t be too bad.”

After the Gold, Allen will be busy preparing for the first round of the Nutri-Grain series on November 21 at Currumbin.

Originally published as Sweet 16 and ready to give it a go