The 14 qualifiers for the 2022/23 Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series have been decided after an epic two days of racing at Tugun SLSC on the Gold Coast.
Sunshine Coast young gun Cooper Williams (Alexandra Headland) has qualified for his third Nutri-Grain IronMan Series after an impressive performance.
Williams has continued to build in the off season, after a breakthrough last season leading the 2022 Australian Ironman final before being pipped at the post by IronMan legend Ali Day.
Williams said he couldn’t be happier to be pulling on the Nutri-Grain togs for the first time this season.
“This feels pretty special – I’ve put in a big pre season and I’m just glad to be back racing,” Williams said.
“I’ve set some pretty high expectations for myself, and I think some other people have as well, so I just wanted to go out there and do them proud,” he said.
Williams admitted that it wasn’t an easy ride into qualifying, battling through two big days of racing and challenging conditions to earn his position.
“The wind was up, and the conditions were tough but I’m glad I was able to get the job done,” Williams said.
“After the first race, I knew I had to back it up for the second…the trial is all about consistency.
“For me it was about being calm, being relaxed and mistake – I knew if I did that it would all fall into place and I guess it did,” he said.
Williams will be joined by Adam Palmer (Maroochydore), TJ Hendy (Surfers Paradise), Beau Wheeler (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Charlie Brooks (Newport), Thomas Scott (Northcliffe) and Corey Fletcher (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) who also earned their place in the 2022/23 lineup.
After making the move from Manly to the Gold Coast in the off season, Ironwoman Naomi Scott (Northcliffe) won the Qualification Round, earning her position for the 2022/23 Series.
Scott said it was a difficult decision to make the move from Sydney to Northcliffe, but it’s already paying dividends for the 21-year-old.
“The last couple of months have been pretty wild for me – I obviously made the move up to Northcliffe Surf Club six months ago,” Scott said.
“I’ve been loving training there, and I’ve been loving the change of lifestyle living on the Gold Coast, and I really just love all the crew down at Northcliffe.
“But I’d like to say a big thanks to Manly for looking after me for the last 10 years, I wouldn’t be here without them,” she said.
Scott has been a mainstay in the Nutri-Grain IronWoman Series for the past few seasons, and is happy to be putting her foot on the line again for the 2022/23 summer.
“It feels pretty good to be back – it feels like only yesterday we were here for last year’s trials,” Scott said.
“I was definitely a little bit nervous coming here this weekend, it’s always a little bit stressful and every race that you do you have to make sure you are doing well.
“I’m pretty happy to be in the Series again this year, wearing those pink togs with my name on my back.
“I’ve been living out my dream in the Series for the last couple of years and I’m excited that I get to do it again,” she said.
Lily O’Sullivan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Lizzie Welborn (Newport), Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore), Emily Doyle (Northcliffe), Lucy Derbyshire (Surfers Paradise) and Emma Woods (Alexandra Headland) will join Scott as part of the 202/23 Nutri-Grain IronWoman lineup.
To see the overall standings, click here.