Cooper takes down big guns
TEEN tyro Brielle Cooper emerged as a genuine threat for the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series at North Wollongong yesterday after winning her second consecutive race to leap to second on the overall standings.
The Kurrawa ironwoman did not even qualify for finals day in the opening event of the series at Queenscliff, failing to register a score for the event.
But she has won the two races since and, with competitors able to drop their worst result of the season, she actually sits as the virtual series leader.
It comes as a massive surprise to the sport’s newest star.
“Unbelievable is one way to explain it,” Cooper said.
“I was confident after last round but I wasn’t confident to go back to back. I knew it was a big goal, which I wasn’t sure I’d be able to reach. I can’t explain how happy I am.”
Cooper, 18, won a three-way sprint to the line against Harriet Brown and Currumbin’s Karlee Nurthen to snare the round win, leaving the experienced pair in her wake as she charged up the beach.
■IRONMAN Matt Bevilacqua says he is back to “where I’m supposed to be” after notching a second career win in the Nutri-Grain series at North Wollongong yesterday.
Bevilacqua beat home a gun field in the eliminator triple sprint format to seal a win that propelled him to third place in the overall standings.