SHEER IRON WILL
Two weeks after breaking her foot Hancock has eyes on the Aussie title
LIZ Pluimers’ quest to win the “Triple Crown” of surf lifesaving this season just got a whole lot tougher with Courtney Hancock confirming she’ll race at the Aussies.
Hancock has recovered from a broken foot just two weeks before the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships hits North Kirra.
The two-time Australian ironwoman champion shapes as Pluimers’ biggest hurdle in her desire to win the Coolangatta Gold, Kellogg’s series and Australian titles in the same season.
Northcliffe’s Hancock will only return to running next week and admits she’s underdone.
But her presence will add plenty to the red-hot field where Pluimers will attempt to win back-to-back titles.
“It’s definitely not the preparation I would have liked to have had,” Hancock said. “It’s going to be a challenge but I love a challenge.
“It’s a strange injury. I’ve been in a moon boot for two weeks and now I’m in joggers all the time.
“I’m not running yet. I’m starting to walk a bit more now. I’m really hoping I can do a bit of grass running next week. That’ll be the next step.
“I’d love to win another one (Australian title).”
Hancock broke a bone in her left foot in a ski training mishap at Currumbin last month. She failed to get over a wave while training with clubmate Shannon Eckstein and her foot got stuck in the ski as she was pummelled through the surf.
The injury ruled her out of last weekend’s Queensland championships on the Sunshine Coast where 2012 Australia champion Rebecca Creedy cruised to victory.
Hancock has been trying to train as much as she can without bearing weight on the foot and said she was ready to have a crack at the Aussies.
“My physio and sports doctor have given me the OK to race at the Aussies,” she said.
“I couldn’t race at the states and I was really nervous this week about seeing them. I had to listen to what they said. Apparently I’ve got healthy, strong bones in my feet. I’ve been trying to do everything I possibly can to look after it and I’ve given myself the best opportunity.”
Hancock is a former winner of the big three events but no ironwoman has ever won them in the same season. Her coach, Gavin Hill, said she was tracking well despite the setback and he expected her experience to play a major role in her chances of winning.
“She hasn’t done a lot of running on the sand but that’s probably more precaution than anything else,” he said.
“She won’t do a lot of it until she has to.
“She had been going really well and she hasn’t slowed down her training really, just cut back on the running and transitioning.
“She’s looking good to go.”
The Aussies begin with the youth championships from April 11 and wrap up on April 19, when the open ironman and ironwoman races will be contested.