We're starting to get a clearer picture of how the Hawaiian Ironman will look in the post-Sharron Ackles era.

Tom Cooney, ex the RD of the Chicago Triathlon and Zofingen Powerman, and one of the premier nuts & bolts RDs in American endurance sports, is the new head operations man in Kona. But there's more to the story.

"Working closely with Cooney will be Ironman North America’s Graham Fraser and 1994 Ironman champion Greg Welch, who is WTC’s newly appointed technical advisor," said the press release announcing Cooney. Fraser, the architect of all the Ironman licensed races in North America may be more than just a helping hand. When WTC reopens its Ironman office in a few weeks, it'll announce the hiring of a Kona-based crew, but our sources also tell us that at least Fraser and Ironman North America's Ted Kennedy may be stationed in Kona through the Fall.

It becomes clearer what WTC's strategy is: to hire a cadre of the best technicians it can find to execute its plan. This ought to put to rest the view (which didn't make any sense, but I heard it voiced nonetheless) that WTC fired Ackles in a cost cutting move.

Cooney and Fraser are both good "site guys" (RD-speak for "architects") and they're also both good "cones and barriers guys" ("general contractors"). This year is the 25th anniversary of the Hawaiian Ironman. Both these guys, along with WTC president Lew Friedland, are well capable of conceiving and executing race upgrades.

Lest anyone conclude, however, that these are de facto equals in the production of the the Kona race, WTC's Priscilla Fraiegari sternly disabused me from that opinion. "This is the Tom Cooney show," she said, "and this comes straight from Mr. Friedland. We're eager for Graham's help and experience, but it's Tom's race to run. Period."

WTC is also steadfast in its assertion that the Hawaiian Ironman's center of gravity is Kona. "Mr. Friedland likes to leverage his resources, and that is why Welchy and Graham are at Tom Cooney's disposal. But the Ironman will be produced by those who live on the Island."

Welchy ought not to be forgotten. "This is Tom Cooney's show," Lew Friedland told me. "But don't take from this that Welchy is just here to be an ambassador. I consider Greg and Graham co-equals in an advisory capacity to Tom. We've actually had him on board since last September, and perhaps we downplayed how important Greg is to us. We signed a long-term deal with him and his experience at having done 400 races in his career is something we intend to rely on heavily."

Graham Fraser has directed more Ironman races than any other person—all in the last five years—and it'll be valuable to have him aboard to advise Cooney, who's not been a fixture at Kona in recent years. The wild card, though, is Welchy. This is the first time I can remember when a former big-time pro has been given such a strong hand in helping advise in the way the race will be run.

It will be an interesting anniversary.