Racing kicks of this weekend in Kingscliff on Saturday 28 November, as athletes prepare to battle it out for their spot in the 2020/21 Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series.
More than 100 athletes will vie for just seven male and seven female spots in this weekends Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Qualification event.
Across both Saturday and Sunday athletes will test themselves on a range of courses varying from short to longer style traditional iron races as well as taking on an M Shape course.
Heats will take place on Saturday from 08:00AM (AEDT) with the top 20 males and females progressing through to the finals on Sunday.
A progressive point score will be kept across the heats on Saturday with the top 20 males and females with the lowest point score securing a spot in the finals on Sunday.
Finals will kick off from 10:00 AM (AEDT) on Sunday morning with a separate progressive point score being kept. The final top seven male and seven females with the lowest point score will secure a coveted spot in the 2020/21 Nutri-Grain Iron Series.
Surfers Paradise Ironman and Coolangatta Gold Champion, Ali Day is the biggest name on the bill this weekend, but that’s not to say there won’t be some young guns who are looking to give him a run for his money.
There will be some more familiar faces lining up on the beach this weekend with 2019/20 athletes Max Beattie, Dan Collins, Nathan Gray, Cooper Williams and Charlie Brooks giving the series another crack in 2020/21.
Taddy McDonnell will be one to watch, having only recently returned to lifesaving after a couple of years away from the sport. The Surfers Paradise athlete recently took out third in the Alex Unbreakable and pushed Ironmen Matt Bevilacqua and Cory Taylor throughout the entire race.
Young gun Charlie Verco from North Bondi could also be a chance, having taken out the recent Coolangatta Gold at Bate Bay ahead of Ironmen Jackson Borg and Jay Furniss.
After getting a taste of the Nutri-Grain IronWoman Series in 2019/20 as pathway athletes, Sunshine Coast locals Tayla Halliday and Tiarnee Massie will look to secure a permanent position in the series this year after narrowly missing spots in last years qualification round.
Northcliffe’s Hannah Sculley and Olivia Corrin will contend their spots from 2019/20 and aim to be back in the top 20 for the series, with both athletes returning from the 2019/20 series.
Manly’s Naomi Scott will battle for a position in the series after returning from a bout of glandular fever that saw her 2019/20 season end early.
Stay tuned to the live updates across the weekend on the live blog or the Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series social channels. Be sure to follow the IronMan and IronWoman Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay across the action.
Following this weekend’s qualifying round, the first two rounds of the Nutri-Grain Iron Series will return to Kingscliff on 19 -20 December 2020, with all rounds of the Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series to be broadcast live on Channel 9.
The final three wildcards positions that make up the full field of 20 male and 20 female athletes will be announced after the qualification event.