Ironman Australia
April 4, 2004

On April 4, 2004 in Forster-Tuncurry, the stage is set for one of the biggest re-matches in Ironman history at the Snap Ironman Australian triathlon. Chris McCormack and Lothar Leder will be pitted against each other in a rematch of last year's Roth ironman, where the race came down to a sprint finish. Like any good movie, there is always a sequel and this time the battle ground will be on McCormack's home turf, the race he has won twice in convincing fashion. McCormack feels he owns this course and it is only fitting the "Show Down" will play out in Australia.

The tactics at Snap Ironman Australia on April 4 may be different to those used in Germany, with McCormack's off-the-front attack of the past two years working successfully for him at Forster. The strong swimmer and cyclist enjoyed a 10-minute lead coming into the second transition last year. However, Leder, one of the most accomplished Ironman athletes in the world (a five-time Quelle Challenge winner and numerous top 10 Hawaii Ironman finisher) and a brilliant tactician will be sure not to give McCormack a lead of that magnitude.

One thing is for sure, the "Show Down in Forster Town" will be one of the most anticipated races in the history of Ironman Australia since the Peter Reid and Chris Legh duals of 1998 and 1999.

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Ironman New Zealand
March, 2004

Triathlon's most enduring and endearing couple are returning to their happiest of hunting grounds for the 20^th anniversary Ironman New Zealand race in Taupo in March. American Ken Glah and Australian wife Jan Wanklyn, with more than 60 Ironman finishes between them over two decades, have chalked up 11 wins and 27 podium placings in their illustrious careers.

The pair will join close friends Scott Molina and Erin Baker at the anniversary of the world's oldest international Ironman in Taupo on Saturday 6 march. American Molina, the inaugural Ironman New Zealand winner in 1985 and world champion in 1988, will race in Taupo while wife Baker, the four-time winner and two-time world Ironman champion, will be the special guest of honour.

Glah and Wanklyn are keen to return to the race that kick-started their careers, and to a country that has been special in their lives. Both gained their first Ironman wins in Auckland, the venue of the race before it was moved to Taupo in 1999. They have won the event five times between them, Glah becoming the first person to win back-to-back over the full Ironman distance in 1992 and 1993. He was involved in two of the most controversial moments, finishing second by 0.1sec to Pauli Kiuru in 1990 and winning in 1993 after being sent the wrong way on the bike.

Wanklyn gained her first Ironman victory in Auckland in 1991 and came back after the birth of her daughter Reanin to win back-to-back in 1996 and 1997. While she never won at top level again, Wanklyn never finished further back than fifth in Ironman races around the globe. ``New Zealand is very special to us and will always hold a special place in our lives,'' Wanklyn said. ``It's a place we always enjoy going. It's finny because we are more recognised there than in our hometown in the United States. We've always found the people really wonderful.''

Wanklyn has close ties with New Zealand, with her mother and family living in Taranaki, which became the regular summer training base for Glah and Wanklyn for nearly a decade as they escaped the harsh winter climes of home in Pennsylvania. While both are in the twilight of their careers, neither could be counted out in Taupo this year. Glah recently completed his 20^th finish at the Ironman triathlon world championships in Hawaii. He has recorded five major Ironman wins in New Zealand (1992, 1993), Canada (1993) and Brazil (1998, 1999). ``I've never had any serious overuse injury throughout my career, which has been a blessing,'' Glah said. ``I put that down to the fact that I've had a lot of body work done over the years and I have always taken a lot of time off.''

He is regarded as a strong all-round triathlete, while wife Wanklyn gained her wins coming from behind on the run. ``I've always believed that what you do on the bike will set you up and the race is always decided on the marathon run,'' Wanklyn said. Her biggest challenge came in her last win in New Zealand in 1997, where she overcame an 11minute 30second deficit to American Lauren Alexander off the bike. Both are likely to be contenders despite their senior status in the 20^th anniversary race.