Kiwi Janes grabs surf series spot

 

New Zealand surf lifesaver Mike Janes has joined the elite of the sport after he was given a wildcard into the lucrative Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan series today.

The 25-year-old, who trains with the Kurrawa club on the Gold Coast, joined Australian star Zane Holmes and two-time USA champion Brian Murphy in the lineup for the series, which starts in November, after he narrowly missed directly qualifying at a trial two weeks ago.

"I thought I had a pretty good trial, particularly on the Saturday when I picked up a couple of fourths, but I rolled my ankle heading into the swim on the Sunday and thought I’d blown it," Janes said.

There were something like 59 people going for just six wildcard spots – there were more people going for spots than there were in the trial, so I was pretty pumped when I heard the news."

Five-time New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie missed out, after competing in the series last year, while top ironwomen Maddison Boon and Nikki Cox also didn't make it.

Moodie and Cox will lead the 12-strong New Zealand team challenge at next week's world championships in Egypt, however.

Janes credits the enormous endurance training he's doing for November's iconic Coolangatta Gold multisport race on the Gold Coast for paving his way into the series, which will focus on longer races this year.

Coolangatta Gold champion Caine Eckstein also picked up a Wildcard, after he and Holmes spent much of the last year struggling with injury, as well as two-time Australian ironman champion Pierce Leonard.

The inclusion of Holmes, Eckstein and Leonard alongside defending series champion Shannon Eckstein, last year’s runner-up Hugh Dougherty, all-time great Ky Hurst and rising stars Ali Day and Matt Poole gives the born again series the strongest field in the sport’s history.

Sydney’s Tara Coleman (Maroubra), the daughter of former South Sydney rugby league coach and captain Craig, was named as one of six IronWomen wildcards with Allira Richardson (Mooloolaba), Sheree Merryfull (Northcliffe), Danielle Allen (Alexandra Headlands), Casey Leo-Litzow (Northcliffe) and Maddison Prior (Warilla-Barrack Point).

Holmes said he was relieved to be granted a wildcard and be back amongst the action.

“I was confident I would be awarded a wildcard but you never know for sure until it’s announced and it’s great that it’s now official,” Holmes said.

“I have been working really hard to get back to full fitness and I am so excited to be involved in this new series with the new formats and great venues."