Triathlon: Ironman Australia Results

Monday, April 07, 2008 - 12:42 AM

G'Day Mate!

NEW Caledonian triathlete Patrick Vernay made the most of his strong running to successfully defend his Ironman Australia title today at Port Macquarie. Hawaiian Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington of Great Britain finished an amazing ninth overall to take out the women's title.

Vernay took the lead nearly halfway through the marathon run from early leader Luke McKenzie and stayed clear for a convincing win, crossing the line in an unofficial time of eight hours, 31 minutes and 33 seconds.

Australian Mitch Anderson was second in 8:40:19 and Swiss Matthias Hecht took third in 8:42:47.

Australian Luke McKenzie was distressed at the finish after a brave race, where he took the lead at the start of the marathon before fading to fifth. It is Vernay's third win in Australia over the last year - in early December, he also Ironman WA in Busselton.

"Now I am an Australian, I think," Vernay told the crowd at the finish.

Cameron Watt led the field out of the 3.8km swim, but McKenzie and Hecht soon took control on the 180km cycle. McKenzie and Hecht built their lead to more than five minutes, before Anderson's renowned cycling ability meant he started eating into their advantage. McKenzie broke clear by himself near the bike-run transition and had a 36-second lead at the start of the marathon.

Anderson was less than three minutes back and Vernay was also well-placed at five minutes, 29 seconds. McKenzie started fading on the run and Vernay caught him at 20km. Australian long-course star Luke Bell was ninth off the bike after apparently suffering a puncture, but worked his way through the field to finish sixth and secure himself a precious Hawaiian Ironman qualifying slot.

In the women's race, Wellington of Great Britain led by nearly a minute at the start of the run and was never threatened. Wellington, Kate Major and fellow Australian Lisa Marangon were the main players throughout the bike leg in the women's race. Marangon was third when she pulled out of the race at the end of the bike and is understood to have started the race with a leg injury.

Wellington won in 9:03:53 and Major finished second in 9:09:11.