Ironman format threat to Hendy
T.J. HENDY might be leading the Nutri-Grain ironman series but a change to this year’s format means he’s no certainty to even line up in Sunday’s Round 2 final.
The absorption of the Nutri-Grain event into the Ocean6 series means only the top six ironmen and ironwoman from last year’s competition qualify automatically for the final in each round, with the remaining 14 starters having to earn their places through preliminary rounds.
Hendy and Round 1 ironwoman winner Jemma Smith both made their NutriGrain series debut last year but finished outside the top six, denying them automatic qualification to the finals this season.
Hendy had to survive three rounds of racing at the opening round of the series at Queenscliff just to qualify for the final and could face the same scenario at Coolum, on the Sunshine Coast, this weekend.
But it does not faze the 22year-old, who believes he has the fitness to tackle the mammoth workload and still be at his best in the final.
“Obviously the plan is always for me to try and only do one because you can qualify straight through if you win that heat,” Hendy said.
“But if worst comes to worst, and I have to race three times, then I’m more than willing and capable to do that.
“I’ve done enough training to do that and it will work in my favour later in the season anyway, because I’ll get fitter from it.”
Hendy broke through for his first race win in the series opener last month in a confidence-bolstering victory.
But he knows he still has plenty of work to do to be able to compete with the sport’s best throughout the summer.
“For me, I’ve got to take the Saturday before I even start thinking about Sunday,” he said.
“Obviously it’s a different challenge to the top six, and they were all the ones that finished closest to me at (Queenscliff).
“It is a bit of a challenge for us younger guys and the ones making a return, to step up and try to go with those guys, especially with an endurance format like we have this weekend.”
Like Hendy, Smith is hopeful of again qualifying for the finals after winning Round 1 but she’s taking nothing for granted.
“The series format changing this year means we have to qualify again but you’ve just got to turn up on the day and put your best foot on the line and it’s game on,” the Umina ironwoman said.
“You’ve just got to do everything you can to make that final on Sunday.”