Lawn shooting for Ironman triple-crown | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Kiwi Jo Lawn is concentrating on what she does best - Ironman, the mother of all triathlons that encompasses a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon.

"I used to think that Ironman was a race that takes say nine hours and I thought if I don't concentrate for 20 minutes of those nine hours it wouldn't really matter," she reflects ahead of tomorrow's gruelling race in Taupo.

"But I've learned you can't stop concentrating for more than one second because if you do, you're giving away valuable time. And that's the part I think I have learned quite well and I do quite well on race day - I focus for the whole time. You can't get carried away in the moment because it will go - Ironman can turn around in a moment."

Lawn has been awarded top seed in the Bonita-sponsored event and will attempt a three-peat at the women's title - a feat not achieved in New Zealand Ironman history.

Despite the focus around both hers and compatriot Cameron Brown's record attempts - Brown is gunning to be the first to win the men's title five times - Lawn is relatively relaxed.

"You know if I think about it too much, there probably is [added pressure]. But I don't want to think about it," she said. "I just want to win ... whether it is the first time or the third time, it shouldn't make any difference. You just go for the win."

Following her breakthrough fifth placing in October's Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, Lawn moved from Colorado with husband Armando Galarraga, who is also lining up in tomorrow's event, back home to Auckland.

However, the pair have spent the past month in Taupo to ensure the best possible lead in to the race. Aided by a new time trial specific bike that's more aerodynamic and a focused approach to her running, Lawn is pleased with her build up.

"It's [build up] gone really well actually, she said. I've been in Taupo and hit the course every day. I've been training with Armando and another friend, Augustine, from Venezuela.

"They're guys so they're stronger and they drag me along quite fast and push me hard."

While 2002 champion Karyn Balance, last year's runner-up Lynley Allison and Taupo's Fiona Docherty have all withdrawn from the race due to injury, Lawn knows she will face tough international competition. She predicts her challengers will include two time Ironman winner Bella Comerford (GBR); Auckland based Yoko Hori - regarded one of the consistent stars of the sport; American Monica Caplan, a former US College swimming star, and Andrea Ratkovic, who is making her Ironman debut.

Ratkovic has a 2hr 34min marathon to her credit, was twice an Olympic triallist on the bike and is four-time duathlon champion in the US.

"I can't underestimate any of them," said Lawn. "There're a couple of unknowns in there as well as some very strong internationals and I know I'll be pushed, but I've just got to push back even harder."

The female seeds for the Bonita Ironman New Zealand in Taupo tomorrow are:

1 Joanna Lawn (NZL), 2 Bella Comerford (GBR), 3 Yoko Hori (NZL), 4 Monica Caplan (USA), 5 Jess Draskau-Petersson (GBR), 6 Susan Peter (AUS), 7 Naomi Imaizumi (JAP), 8 Andrea Ratkovic (USA), 9 Paula Salazar (CHL).

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