Multisport: Ironman challenge for Lawn

World ranked triathlete Jo Lawn will face a daunting international line up in the Tauranga half ironman next month.

Lawn, the three-time ironman New Zealand champion, is top women's seed for the 17th running of the event at Mount Maunganui on January 7.

The competition includes past winner Karyn Ballance, Sydney Olympian Evelyn Williamson, former world champion Fiona Docherty and several international Ironman winners, including Canadian Marilyn MacDonald and Japan's Yoko Hori.