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Cameron Brown emerges from the water - Source: Photosport -
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Cameron Brown won his eighth New Zealand Ironman title at Taupo
in record time on Saturday but the women's title has a new
holder with Gina Ferguson ending Jo Lawn's record six-year
reign.
Brown, from Auckland, turned back a challenge from former
triathlete Terenzo Bozzone to win in eight hours, 18 minutes, five
seconds, a course record.
Ferguson who pushed clear on the run leg, clocked 9hrs 18min 26sec
to finish four minutes in front of Lawn and Australian Charlotte
Paul.
Bozzone, the world 70.3 (half ironman) champion, was making his
debut at Taupo and expected to challenge strongly for the Taupo
title.
The swim did little to separate the contenders and for much of the
bike it was a tight group of riders - Brown, Luxembourg's Dirk
Bockel, Bozzone and Germany's Jan Raphael - at the front.
Bockel opened up a three-minute lead over the final 40km but paid
the price for his efforts in the latter stages.
Brown, 36, dominated the run leg, clocking 2hr 44min 08sec as he
wore down Bockel and left Bozzone running for second.
"That was a whole lot of hurt out there today, in particular the
second half of the run as I was just trying to concentrate," Brown
said.
"Once I passed Dirk (Bockel) I worked on putting as much distance
on him as quickly as I could. I was running scared over the final
few kilometres - you never know when you might cramp or how others
might be finishing.
"I just wanted to win today. The race record is a bonus and a
result of the hard training I have been doing with my coaches
Brendon Cameron and Mark Bone."
Bozzone admitted that he found the extra distance tough physically
and mentally.
"With 40km of the bike to go I just wanted it to end, my legs were
getting quite tired and both Dirk and Cameron rode away from
me.
"Then when I got off the bike and started the run I thought there
is no way I am going to run a marathon after riding 180km but
somehow I managed to get through."
Bockel held on for third in his debut at this distance after
representing Luxembourg at the Beijing Olympic Games ahead of
Raphael and a fast finishing Richard Ussher, the former Coast to
Coast champion improving on last year's seventh place to finish
fifth despite a disappointing swim.
In the women's race, Ferguson, Denmark's former world champion
Lisbeth Kristensen and Lawn led out on the cycle leg before
Kristensen pulled away to open up a 3-1/2 minute advantage on to
the marathon run.
Ferguson, 29, proved strongest in the run, moving past Lawn and
then a tiring Kristensen before the halfway mark.
"The race was really competitive with Jo and Charlotte and earlier
Lisbeth and this is definitely the most important win of my career
so far," Ferguson said.
"Jo was pushing the whole way and I was running scared for a big
part of the marathon.
"I only thought I had it with 7km to go, I knew I had the legs for
that last part and wouldn't let Jo past me," she added.
Lawn was gracious in defeat.
"That was an incredible experience, the crowd was amazing again, I
just wish I could have finished first but Gina had a great day
today and was too good."
