Nutri-Grain ironwoman Rd 3-4: Georgia Miller extends lead with double win, Maroubra, results, standings

Ironwoman Georgia Miller felt “horrible’’ for most of the fourth round of the Nutri-Grain series. But a few choice words from her famous coach got her going. So what did Naomi Flood say?

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

3 min read

January 9, 2023 - 1:14PM

NewsLocal

Georgia Miller winning round four of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman.

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Ironwoman Georgia Miller felt “horrible’’ for the first two of her three survivor races at Maroubra on Sunday but a quick conversation with her famous coach changed the course of her day.

Naomi Flood, who Miller raced against briefly before she retired to start a family and a new career as the Northcliffe women’s coach, had a few choice words for Miller after the second race.

“She just said to me she would not be happy with me if I didn’t give it absolutely everything,’’ said Miller, who like Flood, spent much of her surf life saving career on Sydney’s northern beaches before moving to the Gold Coast.

“That really sparked me up. I had felt just horrible in the first two races.

“But I always want to make her proud.’’

Georgia Miller winning round four of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman.

Miller has now won three of the opening four rounds of the six-leg ironwoman series and is in the box seat to claim the overall crown during the final rounds at Kurrawa on February 4-5.

Miller on Sunday defeated Lucy Derbyshire from Surfers Paradise with Danielle McKenzie Northcliffe third, Courtney Hancock from Surfers Paradise fourth and Lizzie Welborn from Newport fifth.

The women raced two short races which culled the starting field from 20 to eight.

IRONWOMAN OVERALL STANDINGS AFTER ROUNDS 3-4

1 Georgia MILLER Northcliffe 18, Lizzie WELBORN Newport 20, Danielle MCKENZIE Northcliffe 17, 4 Tiarnee MASSIE Maroochydore 15, 5 Lucy DERBYSHIRE Surfers Paradise 16.

Georgia Miller winning round four of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman.

GEORGIA MILLER GOES BACK TO BACK IN RD 3

SATURDAY: Georgia Miller said she was in a world of pain as she sprinted up the beach to the finish of the third round of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series but had a plan to edge out rival Lizzie Welborn.

The champion Australian ironwoman said she knew she had to reach the corner of the finish strait first to record back-to-back victories in the series but wasn't sure she had it in her.

But having Welborn so close fired her up for the win.

“I was exhausted. I didn't feel good. I didn't look good. I felt like I was running up a travelator,’’ she said.

“I think I spent too much energy in the first two races and I just felt really deflated.

“But if you are not buggered by the end I suppose you haven't given enough.

“I just dug deep and tried not tho think of the pain.’’

Georgia Miller on the podium after winning round three of the 2022/23 series.

It was a tactic which delivered northern beaches born, Gold Coast based Miller, representing the Northcliffe club, her thrilling victory over Newport’s ironwoman Welborn and clubmate Danielle McKenzie.

Overall Miller leads from Welborn, Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore), McKenzie (Northcliffe), Lucy Derbyshire (Surfers Paradise) and Lana Rogers (Alexandra Headland)

Prior to round three, Harriet Brown and paddler Ally Bull were both forced from the field with injury.

An exhausted Georgia Miller after her sprint.

IRONWOMAN GEORGIA MILLER HANDLING BUSINESS

Georgia Miller was surprised by a romantic beach proposal on Christmas Day but she’ll be chasing success in this weekend’s Nutri-Grain ironwoman series without fiance and handler Riley Fitzsimmons by her side.

One of the top kayakers in the country, Rio and Tokyo Olympian Fitzsimmons has opted to have another crack at winning a medal in the Olympic arena in Paris next year.

So while Miller is racing in the third and fourth rounds of the ironwoman series from 1pm on Saturday and Sunday, Fitzsimmons will be around 50km away in Sydney’s west at Penrith at a K4 training camp.

“Since we’ve got engaged we seem to be spending less time together,’’ Miller said ahead of the weekend’s racing.

“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks but so good.