From an external perspective, it appears that the long course triathlon scene is experiencing an unprecedented surge in racing opportunities, thanks to the advent of the T100 Triathlon World Tour and the fresh IRONMAN Pro Series.
While this may hold true for certain athletes, for others, the revamped calendar has plunged them into a state of uncertainty, navigating a terrain akin to a no man’s land, necessitating either a shift in focus or the daunting endeavor of breaking into an elite echelon that seems increasingly out of reach.
Jackson Laundry, ranked #38 in the PTO World standings, candidly elucidates his current predicament and that of many others via a YouTube address outlining his plans for the season, underscoring how the available options for some athletes are progressively dwindling.
“Despite maintaining a podium rate of 70% last season,” Laundry laments, “I fell short of accruing the necessary points at the marquee races, thereby missing out on securing a spot on the T100 Tour for 2024.”
The erstwhile IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside champion, boasting a commendable fifth-place finish at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in 2021, has predominantly focused on the half distance throughout his career.
Consequently, competing in the IRONMAN Pro Series this year, which allocates more points at its full distance events, wasn’t a viable option for Laundry. This left the Canadian with the arduous task of vying for a wildcard entry at a T100 Tour event.
“The T100 Tour currently holds sway as the premier series,” he observes, “competing directly with the recently unveiled IRONMAN Pro Series. Everyone has been curious about which series I will pursue, and for me, I’m not in the PTO series. Unfortunately, the IRONMAN series doesn’t align with my racing preferences.”
“Therefore, my current strategy entails participating in events offering the highest points potential and striving to secure a berth in the PTO series, as I’m within striking distance of it presently.
“There are a few athletes ahead of me, and regrettably, I fell short of garnering the requisite points at the highest point-yielding races last year. I believe I belong in that series; I didn’t earn it last year, but that’s my focal point for this year.”
With his sights set on the initial two significant middle-distance races of the pro series, Laundry plans to compete in California and Utah. However, he concedes uncertainty regarding whether achieving top-tier results will suffice to clinch an elusive ticket to the T100 Tour.
“Ascending the rankings will be a formidable challenge, given that all competitors in that series will amass substantial points merely by participating in those races. Hence, I’ll need to excel at fiercely contested events such as IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside and IRONMAN 70.3 St. George.
“If you’re not on the podium, you won’t accrue the points necessary to qualify. Therefore, my aim is at least a podium finish, with perhaps a win or two. The first race of the year will be Oceanside, and I need to deliver an outstanding performance.”
Anticipating the issuance of approximately five wildcards for most events, the 30-year-old pins his hopes on slots trickling down the rankings.
“The allocation of wildcard slots is rather unpredictable. Ideally, they should be distributed based on rankings. However, as we’ve witnessed, some selections are influenced by world titles and contributions to the series, which is understandable.
“I’m hopeful that I perform exceptionally well in these early events and secure a berth in the PTO races later in the season. That’s my primary objective at the moment.”
