Kona - The Women

Yesterday I did a blog about what I thought we might see in the Men's field at Kona this weekend. Today I thought I might write about the women.

To be honest, whilst I am far from an expert with the men, I am even less so for the women. That isn't to devalue the women's competition, not at all, it is just that I am less familiar with them as competitors. All the same I am happy to give it a crack, so here goes.

The obvious favourite is Daniela Ryf. Much like Frodeno, if she is in a race, and she is on song, then it seems like there is nothing she can't do. However, unlike yesterday I don't feel she is quite as firm a favourite as Frodeno is. Hard to put a finger on why, it is not like she hasn't dominated, I think it might be just that there are so many great women in the field. When Ryf is on fire, she can simply blow fields out of the water, ie the 70.3 Worlds, but this Women's Kona field is fast and deep and so I am just a bit less comfortable saying that she is the overwhelming favourite. Favourite for sure, but my gut feel is that we may see a good race in the Women's field on the weekend.

So if it isn't Ryf, then who else? Well that is a good question and one that I am not really sure of the answer, but I know I have some favourites who I would like to see do well.

Sarah Crowley, Sarah Piampiano, Michelle Versterby, Susie Cheetham are all names who have had good years and I think might feature in the pointier end of the field. Can any of them challenge Ryf? I am not sure, but it will be great to see them take it on.

Heather Jackson is one who has a short, but impressive record at Kona so far, with a 5th and a 3rd to her name in her two attempts. However, I think it is fair to say that people always expect big things from her. When she came 5th of debut I remember thinking that I had been expecting a bit more, which is incredible harsh in hindsight, but such is the level of expectation that she inspires. She seems to have had a quieter year in 2017 and so I am not sure how she is traveling, but she is a competitor that you would never discount. Having tasted the Kona podium last year you can bet she is aiming for a higher step this year.

Lucy Charles has an almost worrisome amount of talent, so it will be exciting to watch her. It is probably a bit too early in her Kona career to be expecting big things, but I will be watching with interest anyway. Certainly expecting to see her exit the water very early in the field. She has had such a rapid progression over the last 12 months that I am always keen to see what happens next with her.

Other than Sarah Crowley there are a few other Aussies that I will be keeping an eye on. Annabel Luxford is a phenomenal athlete who always seems to feature, but not quite be there in Ironman and in particular Kona. She is another one where it would be nice to see her put together a race that meets her potential. Dimity-lee Duke is another favourite of mine. She is probably the best Australian female triathlete you have never heard of. On Kona for the second time this year, she is a great person and a really solid worker who quietly gets on with it and racks up consistent results but never gets the attention she deserves. I am not expecting Dimity to be right up in the pointy end, but I will be watching hoping that she has a good day.

On the age group front my eyes will be for two women only Canadian Janine Willis and Aussie Emily Loughnan. Both are previous 70.3 World Champions in their age groups (Janine is a current World Champion after defending her title in Chattanooga) and both have podiumed in Kona before. Both are also there for one thing, to win.

Between them I feel that Janine and Emily are two of the most talented Age Group women in the world, however, the top step of Kona has so far eluded them. If I am honest I will probably be paying far more attention to these two than I will be to both the pro men or the pro women. For me, Kona 2017 is all about these guys. can't wait.