Brown, Lawn confirmed for Tauranga half-ironman

Cameron Brown has been troubled by a niggling calf injury. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Leading endurance triathletes Cameron Brown and Joanna Lawn have confirmed their entries for the Port of Tauranga half ironman on January 9 although Brown's participation is in doubt due to injury.

Brown is an eight-time winner at Mt Maunganui and a seven-time winner of Ironman New Zealand while Lawn, a two-time winner of the Port of Tauranga half ironman, is a six-time champion at Ironman New Zealand.

The 21st Port of Tauranga half ironman doubles as the official Triathlon New Zealand national championships.

Brown, second in the event behind Taupo's Duncan Milne this year, has a question mark over his appearance after suffering from a niggling calf injury in recent weeks.

"I have a micro tear in the calf and first two runs back had it tighten up again," Brown said.

"I had the last seven days off again before Christmas and plan to run again this week to test it out.

"So it is very touch and go at this stage. I'm trying to leave the decision as late as possible as I really want to be on the start line."

If fit, Brown will face a stellar field, including defending champion Milne, the 2008 winner Kieran Doe, of Auckland, and Ironman Western Australia winner Tim Berkel, who ventures across the Tasman for the first time on the back of five top-10 finishes in the United States over the 70.3 distance in 2009.

Lawn, 31, has overcome some issues to return to outstanding form with a strong seventh placing at the ironman world championships in Hawaii.

Remarkably, a chance visit to a bike shop in Germany led to a diagnosis that her poor position on the bike was due to her jaw and she now has a special plate in her mouth which has corrected the problem.

At the same time she addressed a long-time eating disorder which had threatened her career.

Re-energised and enthused, Lawn is excited about her prospects for 2010.

"Looking back at this now I can see how crazy it was, but during that time nothing and no one could have made me eat anything I didn't want to.

"I thought as long as I was eating fat-free and sugar-free then I was fine," Lawn said.

"I've noticed the change. I have my old power back on the bike and I have energy to train well and love what I am doing."

Lawn faces arguably the best field of female triathletes in the event's 21-year history, including Olympian Sam Warriner, who won for a second time in 2009 and set the race record in the process.

Three-time champion Rebekah Keat is returning along with two other Australians in 2008 winner Kate Bevilaqua and Alison Fitch.

Australian-based Swiss athlete Caroline Steffen will also pose a serious threat after she finished fourth in the ironman 70.3 world championship last month.

- NZPA