Nutri-Grain ironwoman, ironman series: Naomi Scott qualifies after illness

There was a good reason Naomi Scott was extremely worried how she would go in the weekend’s qualifying racing for the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series.

Ironwoman Naomi Scott during the pro series trials.

There were many days surf life saver Naomi Scott couldn’t get off the couch.

Days when she had no energy, didn’t feel like doing anything as she battled with glandular fever.

It’s why the Manly surf lifesaver was concerned how she would go in the weekend qualifying races at Kingscliff in northrn NSW.

She need not have worried.

“I felt like crying I was so happy,’’ said Scott after crossing the finish line of her final race at Kingscliff on Sunday, the women’s winner of the two-day qualifying event for the 2020/21 professional ironwoman series kicking off in December.

Ironwoman Naomi Scott on her board at Manly Beach. Scott is on the comeback from Glandular Fever.

“I am so happy. I sort of went back to training in February so I had two and a half months off. The glandular fever hit me quote badly.

“I managed to get back into it and raced states. But that was the only race I did before this all these months later.’’

The Manly life saver said she was nervous and unsure how she would perform on the weekend.

“It was all very up in the air. I’ve taken a different approach to training because I’ve realised I need to not overtrain and work on rest and recovery,’’ she said.

“So I’m very surprise with this result. I am so stoked.’’

Scott finished the weekend in first place ahead of Alex Headland’s Tayla Halliday with Newport’s Emily Doyle third.

Also qualifying from NSW was Carla Papac from Wanda and Madison Spencer from Newport.

The trials were the first racing Scott has done since February.

NSW men also had great success in their racing with Newcastle’s Daniel Collins finishing second Zach Morris from Newport third.

The men’s and women's fields now stand at 18 with two wildcard positions up for grabs in both.

This year’s Nutri-Grain ironman and ironwoman series will return to live free-to-air TV for the first time since 20 while a new series designed to discover new talent will be held before each of the six rounds.

A prize pool of $100,000 will be up for grabs in both the women’s and men’s competitions, with two weekends of racing in NSW at Kingscliff and North Cronulla.

DATES AND VENUES

Dec 19-20: Round 1-2, Kingscliff, NSW

Jan 16-17: Round 2-3, North Cronulla, NSW

February 13-14: Round 5-6 (FINAL). Kurrawa

TV: Live and free-to-air on Channel 9

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