Shannon Eckstein wins at North Cronulla to seal record 9th Nutri-Grain ironman crown
SHANNON Eckstein has sealed a record ninth Nutri-Grain ironman title with a round to spare after winning today’s race in Sydney.
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SHANNON Eckstein has sealed a record ninth Nutri-Grain ironman title with a round to spare after winning today’s race in Sydney.
Eckstein prevailed in big surf at North Cronulla, leading almost start to finish in swells as big as 2m that cause carnage for much of the field.
It was the Northcliffe ironman’s fourth win from five races this season, with his worst result a second placing at Newcastle last month.
Eckstein took his chances from the opening swim leg of the two-loop course, emerging from the water just behind Cronulla product Nathan Smith and pushing his advantage on the ski leg to emerge with a big lead he held throughout the race.
“Lots of things can happen in this sport, so you’ve got to get it done while you can,’’ Eckstein said.
“I was in front there, so I thought, head down, get it done and now I can enjoy round six.’’
Eckstein led Kurrawa’s Matt Bevilacqua by 15 points heading into yesterday’s round, with defending series champion Ali Day, from Surfers Paradise, a further four points back.
But his win officially snuffed out the pair’s title hopes.
Day finished fourth to leapfrog Bevilacqua into second place after the Tasmanian product’s feint title chance ended with a catastrophic 11th placing.
The women’s series comes down to a thrilling finish tomorrow with Kirsty Higgison and Jordan Mercer heading into the final race of the season tied for the lead.
Mercer led Noosa training partner Higgison by three points heading into round five but Higgison snatched her third win of the season to tie for the lead after Mercer followed her home in second place.
North Burleigh’s Brodie Moir is in third place overall but only a mathematical chance of winning the series after finishing fifth yesterday.
The series finishes tomorrow with round six at North Cronulla.
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