Nutri-Grain iron series: Lily Finati, Maddy Spencer, Britney Pierce crack ironwoman field

She’s been talked about as a rising star of surf life saving and iron racing for some time. Now this Sydney teenager is proving it.

She’s been talked about as a rising star of the sport for some time. Now Sydney surf lifesaver Lily Finati is proving it.

Just weeks after completing her HSC, Finati was on Sunday one of seven athletes to earn a spot on the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series starting in the New Year.

And for Finati, that mean competing in front of family and friends on her home beach at North Bondi in January.

Ironwoman Lily Finati at the trials on the Gold Coast.

Juts two days shy of her 18th birthday, Finati made the top seven at trials in Queensland to earn her spot alongside women she has watched and admitted her entire life.

“I can't believe it. I am in complete shock,’’ she said.

“I didn't; know what to expect because I haven’t done a lot of racing against these other girls with school and Covid.

“But I know I have been training hard and during lockdown I was quite dedicated so I had to trust in the work I did.’’

Ironwomen Carla Papic, Maddie Spencer and Electra Outtram. .

The teenager will now compete in her first professional ironwoman series when the six round event kicks off at North Bondi on January 14.

“For my first racing to be on my home because. that's a massive incentive for me,’’ she said.

“I am just excited to race the people I have have always looked up to like Lizzie (Welborn) and Georgia (Miller).

Also in the main field is Newport’s Maddy Spencer, who competed last year but missed out on an automatic qualification, and fellow Sydneysider Britney Pierce from Wanda.

LOOKALIKE IRONWOMAN RIDING A WAVE OF SUCCESS IN SURF LIFE SAVING

DECEMBER 16: Lily Finati is turning heads for both her results and uncanny similarity to a former star of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series.

The 17-year-old from Coogee shares a resemblance with former ironwoman Candice Falzon who she has recently trained alongside at her North Bondi club.

Finati, who has just completed Year 12, is one of a new wave of surf life savers with dreams of making the professional Nutri-Grain series and will be in Queensland from Saturday trying to achieve the feat at the two-day trials for the upcoming series.

Lily Finati will be chasing a spot in the professional ironwoman series in Queensland.

If she misses out the teen will still compete in the Gen X series which will be run alongside the Queensland legs of the Nutri-Grain series in February.

“I’m training ever afternoon and morning during the week, doing big Saturday sessions and then I have Sunday’s off,” Finati said.

Finati, who also coaches Nippers at her club, has this season found herself training alongside Warner, who has returned to surf life saving with the goal of competing at next year’s NSW and Australian championships, and has learned from the experience.

Tara Coleman, left, competed for years on the ironwoman series.

“It’s been great to speak to her about stuff. She has given me great advice and is a really positive person.’’

The former ironwoman will also be part of the channel nine commentary team for the Nutri-Grain series when it kicks off at North Bondi from January 14-16.

Finati this weekend will be racing against another training mate – her idol Tara Coleman. Coleman is heading to Tugun on the Gold Coast in a bid to snare one of the seven spots on offer into the women’s field.

“I remember Tara racing when I was little. She has always been an inspiration and idol,’’ Finati said.

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