Jordan's iron will primed for Hawaii

Gutsy multisporter Blair Jordan thrives on challenges. Now he's set his sights and on the biggest yet - the Ironman world championships in Hawaii.
The 23-year-old Tauranga electrical engineer started in hisfirst ironman event on Saturdayat Taupo and chewed throughthe 3.8km swim, 180km cycleand 42km run with consummate ease.
Coming home in 9:44.10sec and finishing fourth in his age group was fast enough to qualify him for the gut-busting Hawaiian Ironman in Kona.
Yesterday, Jordan paid his money and booked a spot in the October 15 race.
"I'm amping ... Hawaii is just such a huge event and the one to aim for," Jordan told the Bay of Plenty Times shortly after confirming he would compete at the world champs.
Jordan was one of 16 Western Bay athletes who lined up for and completed the 21st Bonita Ironman - New Zealand's biggest annual one-day international sporting event.
A total of 1175 athletes representing 39 countries plunged into Lake Taupo as a cannon was fired shortly after 7am.
Only one Japanese triathlete missed the cut off 17 gruelling hours later as the clock ticked over to midnight.
When Jordan competes in Hawaii in seven months time it will be an amazing feat for the young athlete, who only last month battled to a superb sixth in the legendary Coast to Coast multisport race across the South Island.
The disadvantage of competing in the 246km endurance race was it left him little time to prepare for the Taupo race.
"I had only done a total of 15 swims before Saturday in preparation.
"I had swum the distance once so I knew I could do it."
Following an impressive 53 minutes in reasonably warm waters of Lake Taupo, Jordan raced off on the bike leg.
He placed himself nicely with a group, including eventual women's champion and record breaker Jo Lawn, but Jordan was unfortunately pinged for drafting.
"We were working together and keeping to the distances according to the race regulations but as we went up a hill I just closed in on a guy in front and got snapped by an official."
Drafting carries an immediate four-minute penalty, requiring athletes to pull up and wait roadside before they are cleared to continue.
"It wasn't so much the time penalty, but it meant I lost a great group and I just couldn't catch them again.
"I had to do the last 60km alone and did it real hard which affected me a bit on the run."
After 5:17.16sec on wheels, the former Tauranga Boys College running star traded his bike for running shoes. Jordan admitted lack of training time after Coast to Coast and a slight leg muscle niggle also curtailed his running two weeks prior to race day.
However, after a creditable marathon time of just under three and a half hours, Jordan mustered enough energy to sprint down the finishing chute, punching the air with a clenched fist as he crossed the line.
Prior to Saturday's stunning ironman debut Jordan was pondering whether a future in multisport would be the path to take.
Now he has little doubt where his competitive future lies.
Over a few beers celebrating his success with his coach and Ironman veteran Walter Thorburn, Jordan has Kona firmly in his sights.
"It seems triathlon might be the sport for me."
He plans to do some surfing at Mount Maunganui before starting a hectic training programme through the winter months.