A massive congratulations to all Race One Brand Ambassadors/Athletes for their outstanding performance in the 2023-24 Ironman/Ironwoman series.
It's truly impressive to see our team finishing first, second, and third in both the men's and women's categories. Thank you for making us proud and showcasing our brand. We absolutely love being a part of this sport and couldn't be prouder to be associated with such phenomenal athletes.
Read below the race report from the Gold Coast Bulletin:
Iron history in making: Fifth men’s crown for Day and third women’s for Rogers
Lana Rogers cried and couldn’t talk, Georgia Miller snatched a place in Nutri- Grain series history and Ali Day equalled one of the most extraordinary records of any athlete in Australian surf life saving as the 2023-24 iron series came to a thrilling conclusion at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast.
Ironwoman Rogers secured her third series crown after two seasons of poor results prompted a sea change, to which she attributes new lease on life in the sport.
Miller became the first woman to win back-to-back rounds this season to secure her second place overall in the series despite a string of early season injuries and mishaps – including badly burnt feet from racing the Coolangatta Gold.
Day then secured his fifth ironman crown in convincing style with his victory in the final race of the six-event series confirming him as one of surf sports greatest.
The win was Day’s 17th major ironman victories in Australian surf life saving with his record now listing five Nutri-Grain series, three Australian titles and nine Coolangatta Gold victories.
Eckstein, a hero of Day’s growing up on the NSW south coast, also has 17 major wins with his nine series titles and eight Australian iron crowns. “There’s no way I put myself up there with Shannon, no way,’’ said a modest Day.
“I will never match what he has done but it’s nice to be spoken about in the same sentence as him.’’
Rogers, who was left speechless and overwhelmed by emotion when told she had the series in the bag after the first of three races at Kurrawa, has confirmed she has now shelved any plans to retire.
“I never thought I could do this once, let alone three times. This is very special for me,’’ said Rogers, who attributes her resurgence to a move from training alone on the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast to train under former iron great Naomi Flood and her talentladen Northcliffe squad.
“I’ve grown up, moved out of home and I’m doing what I want to do doing and I’m loving it,’’ Rogers said.
“Yes, it’s (retirement) off the agenda. I’m just having so much fun with this now.’’ Day, from Surfers Paradise, finished ahead of Joe Collins (Northcliffe) overall, with his teammates Matt Bevilacqua third and Zach Morris fourth.
Manly’s Kendrick Louis in eighth and Jackson Borg in ninth were the only NSW athletes in the top 10 overall. Day beat Collins and Bevilacqua for the round six honours.
On a day that marked former series winner Harriet Brown’s retirement, Rogers secured the overall crown from Northcliffe clubmates Miller and Olivia Corrin. Newport’s Lizzie Welborn was the only non-Queensland based athlete in the top 10, in sixth overall.
Miller and Rogers were followed over the line in Sunday’s Survival racing by Tiarnee Massi for her first podium.
Article source: Gold Coast Bulletin, 5 Feb 2024
