Harriet Brown ends teen domination, Shannon Eckstein fires in Nutri-Grain series
SPURRED by words of wisdom from an ironwoman legend, Harriet Brown has snapped the winning run of teenagers as Shannon Eckstein broke through for victory in Nutri-Grain ironwoman and ironman series races.
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SPURRED by words of wisdom from ironwoman legend Naomi Flood, veteran Harriet Brown snapped the winning run of teenagers in the Nutri-Grain series as multiple men’s champion Shannon Eckstein refound his “killer instinct’’ to mount a late challenge for the ironman title.
On a day of breakthroughs for both athletes, a rivals mishap on the ski saw Brown claim her first ever round victory on the professional circuit in nine years of trying while Eckstein collected his first round win this season.
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“It’s a very special win for me, very special, after all these years of trying’’ said Brown, who revealed coach Flood had warned her anything could happen in the windswept and messy conditions and to be alert for any chance to shine.
Brown was consequently ready to pounce when Bondi 18-year-old Lizzie Welborn tipped off her ski in big waves and cold conditions at Fairhaven Beach, Victoria, paving the way for 27-year-old Brown to end the three-round winning run of teenagers in the ironwoman series.
In a further blow for Welborn, Jordan Mercer also overtook her in the sprint to the finish line for second place.
“The conditions were really big and rough and all over the place from the wind. It was very tricky and we were getting pushed around like a washing machine but Naomi had told me not to give up right until the end. It was good advice,’’ Brown said.
While she has won world and Australian titles in the past, a round win in the Nutri-Grain series had eluded Brown until Sunday.
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“I does give me a lot of confidence. I think (not winning a round) for sure was a monkey on my back,’’ Brown said.
Prior to Brown’s win, schoolgirl Jemma Smith won round one with Brielle Cooper, 19, winning the second and third legs of the six-event series. On Sunday they finished 11th and 12th respectively.
In the men’s event Eckstein beat series leader Ali Day and Kendrick Louis for his 35th Nutri-Grain ironman victory.
Eckstein said he had lacked motivation in the first three rounds but a break over Christmas had refreshed him mentally.
“I wasn’t enjoying it much and I didn't have that pride in performance,’’ he said.
“But over Christmas and New Year I got that determination back to beat the young guys again.
“I had that killer instinct back in my eye today.’’
Day leads the men’s series with two rounds to race from TJ Hendy, Matt Bevilacqua and Eckstein.