Former champions, up-and-coming stars and Ironman veterans highlight the professional men’s field for Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Geelong.
The 16 athlete strong men’s professional field includes three former Ironman 70.3 Geelong winners, with Steve McKenna, Sam Appleton and Josh Amberger all having stood on the top step of the podium in recent years.
Adelaide’s McKenna claimed his breakthrough Ironman 70.3 victory in Geelong last year and is looking forward to returning to action on Sunday.
“I’m probably the fittest I’ve been on all legs but it doesn’t mean that I’m going to win, the race can go any way and with certain people rocking up, like Appleton, the race dynamics can change a lot,” said McKenna.
“I’m fitter than last year but it doesn’t mean anything. I think that if I don’t fire on the day I’m still going to go alright in my head so I’m pretty happy with where things are at.
“You may not fire in the first few races of the season but I know the year is going to be really good so I’m just excited because I’m definitely improving, I haven’t plateaued since learning to swim and bike in 2015.
“Everyone says that I looked angry when I won last year, I took up triathlon in 2015 and to make it happen so quickly, as in getting my Pro licence in 12 months and starting to win Pro races within a few years, it takes a lot of sacrifice and takes a lot of OCD I guess.
“It takes a lot of training, a 180 on the way you were living your life, obviously from the very first moment I thought this is what I’m going to do for a job, that was after my very first triathlon locally in Adelaide, so I’ve been so committed to it that I was kind of angry cause it was a goal achieved.
“I wanted to hold an Ironman tape, not come second, I’d won some other races but Ironman was always that dream, it meant so much to me. This year it will be more of a happy thing if I was on the podium, rather than angry.”
Racing gets underway at 7am on Sunday with athletes taking on a 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run before crossing the finish line at Steampacket Gardens.
