Week of work, then sprint to ironman title

A Kurrawa SLSC star fended off his opposition to claim the state ironman title after a spectacular beach sprint.

A GRUELLING 42-hour week wasn’t going to hold Tanyn Lyndon back when it came to a sprint finish to claim the state ironman title yesterday.

A lengthy sandbank meant competitors had to sprint more than 100m before they were able to hit the water but the 26-year-old Kurrawa member used the Broadbeach conditions to his advantage.

“I reckon that was probably the toughest part,” he said. “I like running and it was a really long bank so that’s where I try to make my attack.”

BEVILACQUA AND HANCOCK CRUISE INTO STATE FINALS

Lyndon was part of the leading group for all three of the gruelling race legs but separated himself from the podium pack in the swim leg’s final moments in what proved to be a masterstroke.

“I was up there the majority of the race but I was trying to hang on during that swim,” he said.

“I looked up to the left (while catching a wave to shore) and saw (Matt) Poole and (Ben) Carberry and thought ‘oh no’ so I sprinted up the beach but I was a bit worried about that one.

“The guys all turned really hard to the right as we were coming in but I thought I’d just carry on straight and then I saw the first turn flag so I gunned it towards that.”

The apprentice carpenter revealed that a gruelling work week left him worse for wear and unable to reach his full potential in the ironman qualifiers on Saturday.

“I worked a 42-hour week and then turned up yesterday (Saturday) so I was feeling a bit rusty from the heat this week,” he said.

“I wasn’t feeling great but woke up today (Sunday) feeling good so I had a crack.”

Tanyn Lyndon crosses the line first in the ironman race at the Queensland State surf life saving championships. Picture: Harvpix

Ironman stalwarts Ali Day and Shannon Eckstein didn’t compete yesterday meaning Lyndon will get the chance to take it to the old guard at Aussies in two weeks’ time.

“It’s always good got get a win but there is a bit of a curse apparently if you win State then you don’t win Aussies but I’ll go out there and give it a good crack and see what happens,” he said.

Northcliffe’s Courtney Hancock couldn’t go back to back in the ironwoman which was instead won by Lana Rogers of Noosa Heads SLSC.

Hancock came in third and was just beaten by teammate Danielle McKenzie.