Kumeu Triathlon Legend Wins Ironman World Title

Legendary Kumeu triathlete Tiare Lund has added another world title to her long list at this weekend’s Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Lund took out the women’s 65-69 years title in the gruelling race run in sweltering conditions on Hawaii’s Big Island at Kona-Kailua.

The New Zealander is a multi-world championship medallist over both the Olympic and Ironman distances, but made a return to Hawaii after injury sidelined her for much of 2009 and 2010.

The 66 year old won her age group at Ironman New Zealand to qualify for Hawaii. She led from the start today, first out of the 3.8km swim in 1:27.13, stretching that advantage with a 6:46.26 time for the 180km bike and was the only athlete in her age group to dip under five hours for the 42.2km marathon run.

Lund won in 13:25.04, to be more than 15 minutes ahead of her nearest rival.
Her performance was the highlight for the New Zealanders and of her outstanding career.

“It was a superb performance from Tiare,” said Ironman New Zealand Event Director Jane Patterson. “Tiare has been at the forefront of the sport for so many years. When she got injured a couple of years ago most would have given up. But not Tiare. She fought back and was brilliant today to dominate her age group.

“Tiare is not just an excellent athlete. She is a wonderful person and huge contributor to our sport. No-one is more deserving of the success.”

Lund sparked an outstanding world championship for the 38 New Zealand age group competitors, with seven finishing in the top-10 as well as a silver medal to Levin’s Gary Burgess in the men’s 55-59 years age group, and bronze medal to Auckland’s Hilary Wicks in the women’s 30-34 years.

Burgess clocked a magnificent 10:15:28 in a superbly consistent day, finishing 12 minutes behind the age group winner after being third fastest in the swim and second fastest on the bike and the run.

Wicks went well under the 10 hour barrier, clocking 9:51.07, following her 1:03.13 swim with an excellent 6:17.41 ride and 3:29.05 marathon.

Tauranga’s Jessica Lawson clocked 10:21.24 in the 18-24 years age group to finish fourth, only three minutes out of a medal on debut.

The standard of age group performances was staggering. None more so that the men’s 30-34 years age group where Otago’s Rob Creasy clocked an ultra competitive time of 9:17.48, which would have been in the top 32 in the professional  race, but could do no better than 26th in his age group, which arguably had the harder of the wind conditions. The first four finishers in this age group went under the nine hour barrier, usually the domain of professionals only.