Relieved wildcard entrant Tiarnee Massie will do all she can to remain in the Ironwoman Series, at least to avoid the dreaded trials again.
The Maroochydore club-member and Noosa’s Electra Outram were handed the remaining two places in the 20-strong field for this summer.
It will be Massie’s debut as a full-timer on the circuit.
A genuine up-and-comer in the sport, she just missed out on earning an automatic spot in the series for the past two seasons, because of unsatisfying results at the trials.
“Last year I did the trials and missed out by one point which was really disappointing,” she said.
“So, I wanted to come back this year and prove that I deserved to be in the Nutri-Grain Series (but) it was a really tough week leading up to the trials because I had really bad gastro and I ended up racing on basically no food and water, so it was a really tough weekend of racing and to not get the result that I wanted was quite hard.”
Although Massie failed to qualify via the trials, she impressed wildcard selectors with her impressive display on the opening day of the two-day carnival.
And the 20-year-old recently outperformed regular series competitors at events on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, including a victory at an Oceans 38 ironwoman event.
“I did know there was still a wildcard option so I was really hoping they would pick me. I felt like I had proven myself on that first day (of the trials),” she said.
Now, with entry into this summer’s series secured, she’s keen to finish high enough in the overall standings to automatically re-qualify for 2021/2022.
“I would love to qualify, so I don’t have to go through the whole trial again next time,” she laughed.
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Massie believes she’s capable of being right in the mix.
A noted board paddler, who is improving in all other disciplines, Massie competed in a handful of rounds of the series a couple of years ago, when qualifying was held for each round.
“I’m more mature and have more years of racing and experience behind me now and I’m excited to hopefully have some good races this season,” she said.
Massie hails from a family of athletes. She has claimed national youth titles in surf lifesaving and has represented Australia (under-18) in kayaking.
Sunshine Coast athletes set to compete in the Ironwoman Series are Massie, Outram and Alexandra Headland club-members Lana Rogers, Tiarrn Raymond, Taylah Halliday and Emma Woods. Rogers is the reigning champion. Cooper Williams will compete in the Ironman Series. Halliday, Woods and Williams came through the trials.
The six-round series starts with Rounds 1 and 2 at Kingscliff on December 19-20.
