Top 10 finishes for Brown and Ferguson in Hawaii

Kiwi triathletes Cameron Brown and Gina Ferguson bagged top-10 finishes at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Brown has finished fifth in his 10th trip to the test of the toughest – a 3.8km swim 180km bike and 42km marathon run in the extreme heat in Kona Kailua on the Big Island.

Ferguson (Christchurch) finished a highly creditable eighth in her rookie year in Hawaii.

Compatriots Jo Lawn (Auckland) and Bryan Rhodes (Taupo) were not as fortunate, finishing 14th and 23rd respectively in the elite race.

Initially Brown finished in sixth place in the men’s race won by Australian Craig Alexander who went one better than last year. He took the lead at the 25km mark on the run and went on to win in 8h17m45s.

Brown was later elevated to fifth place with Germany’s Timo Bracht was disqualified for failing to take his penalty for drafting.

The 36-year-old had worked hard on improving his bike strength, and that seemed the case when he came off the bike inside the top-10 and within eight minutes of the leader.

However he had to ride 30kms on a flattening tyre, which proved the damaging factor.

“I just kept riding and waited for the mechanical support to arrive and then I changed it,” Brown said.

“It did not really cost me much time but it took its toll riding at speed on a flat tyre. In the end I ran out of legs when it counted on the run.

“Overall I am not too disappointed. I had a really good race and definitely felt so much stronger on the bike. I am continuing to improve as an athlete so I will be looking to come back next year to see if I can get back on the podium.”

He had moved into third place at 25kms mark on the run but was passed by Belgium’s Rutger Beke and Germans Ronnie Schildknecht and Bracht 10kms from the finish. Brown crossed in 8:26.17.

Alexander took the lead at the 25km mark on the run and went on to win in 8h17m45s.

“You hope for this, plan for it and train for it, but never expect it,” Alexander said “I had a big dream and a big goal. I just can’t believe it.”

Spain’s Eneko Llanos finished second ahead of Beke.

There is a potential issue with one of the Europeans for an incident on the course.

Spain’s Eneko Llanos finished second ahead of Belgium’s Rutger Beke.

Rhodes finished 23rd in 8:53.35.

In the women’s race Ferguson, who was third out of the water dropped out of the top 10 on the bike before pushing her way up to eighth after a fine run.

She finished in 9h36m with a 54.45m swim, 5hr 26m bike and 3hr 11m run.

“My aim was a top-10 finish so I am really happy to get eighth,” an exhausted Ferguson said.

“But I’ve never felt like this though. It is so hard. I usually can finish really strongly but I felt really sick about four miles from the finish.

“I am totally exhausted and feel horrible. But I have done a good job. Now I just want to sleep.”

Defending women’s champion Chrissie Wellington (GBR) streeted the field in a brilliant display winning in 9:06.23 which was 15 minutes clear of Austria’s Yvonne Van Vlerken with Germany’s Sandra Wallenhorst in third.

Wellington ran a superb 2hr57min marathon to cement her title.

A disappointed Lawn finished 14th in 9:45.33 after a slowish swim and a strong bike that saw her up into fourth place at one stage.

Results:

Ironman World Championships (3.8k, swim 180km bike 42km run):

Male: Craig Alexander (AUS) 8:17.45, 1; Eneko Llanos 8:20.50, 2; Rutger Beke (BEL) 8:21.23, 3.

New Zealanders: Cameron Brown 8:26.17, 6; Brian Rhodes 8:53.35, 23.

Females: Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 9:06.23, 1; Yvonne Van Vlerken (NED) 9:21.20, 2; Sandra Wallenhorst (GER) 9:22.52, 3.

New Zealanders: Gina Ferguson 9:36.53, 8; Joanna Lawn 9:45.33, 14.