TRIATHLON

Legend awarded top seed for Kellogg's Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand

By IRONMAN New Zealand


Cameron Brown (centre) on his way to beating former world champion
Peter Robertson (left) and IRONMAN Western Australia champion Tim Berkel
on the way to his record victory in Cairns last year.  Credit: Delly Carr

The remarkable career of Cameron Brown could have another twist after he was awarded top seeding for next month’s 31st Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand.

The 42-year-old has already carved out a special niche in the sport. He is the only person to win the same IRONMAN race 10 times, which he achieved at the Taupo event in 2011.

Last year he became the oldest male to win an IRONMAN event when he triumphed after a three-man battle on the run in Cairns.

After a superb return to form last year, Brown has emerged as a favourite for the 2015 IRONMAN New Zealand in Taupo on Saturday 7 March.

He takes the top seeding into the world’s oldest international IRONMAN race, which will offer more than $NZ100,000 in prizemoney for professionals and 50 qualifying spots among the 1250 age group participants from 55 countries for Hawaii’s world championship.

A long break has given Brown a new lease on life, cemented with a strong third placing in the recent IRONMAN 70.3 Auckland event, which doubled as the Asia-Pacific Championship.

“Everything is back on track and going very well,” admits Brown, who celebrates his 43rd birthday in June. “I was very happy with Auckland 70.3 and my speed. I want to go down to Taupo, give it a good shot and see if I can take the title again.”

Brown believes a good swim and being in the front pack after the first component could be critical for his IRONMAN New Zealand aspirations.

Compatriot Terenzo Bozzone is the number two seed after finishing runner-up twice and third over the last five years. Bozzone is a star at IRONMAN 70.3 with a world title in 2008 and podium in 2013 along with a remarkable 22 victories, but is still chasing a breakthrough win at the IRONMAN distance.

There is a raft of worthy challengers from around the globe with seven nationalities among the top 10 men’s seeds announced today.

Third seed is Briton Joel Jameson who has a bunch of top five finishes at IRONMAN races while Seychelles only professional triathlete, Nick Baldwin is seeded fourth on the back of his podium at IRONMAN Australia last year amidst a group of top-10 placings.

Experienced Swiss athlete Mike Sdhifferle has 10 top-10 IRONMAN finishes in his resume while among the other seeds is American Andrew Yoder, rated one of the most exciting prospects after his IRONMAN 70.3 win in New York; former Wanaka winner Dylan McNeice from Christchurch in his IRONMAN debut at home and double Olympic rower Todd Skipworth from Australia who won the arduous Alpe d’Huez Triathlon.

The women’s seedings will be announced tomorrow.

The men’s seeds are: Cameron Brown (NZL) 1, Terenzo Bozzone (N ZL) 2, Joel Jameson (GBR) 3, Nick Baldwin (SYC) 4, Mike Schifferle (SUI) 5, Dylan McNeice (NZL) 6, Jose Jeuland (FRA) 7, Andrew Yoder (USA) 8, Simon Cochrane (NZL) 9, Todd Skipworth (AUS) 10.

Details: www.ironman.com