Auckland Ironman becomes world champion in Hawaii

Auckland Ironman becomes world champion in Hawaii

15 October 2012, 10:41AM
Sports Media NZ

Auckland’s Hilary Wicks became the fastest women’s age group triathlete on the planet in today’s Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Wicks, an accountant from Papakura, withstood a strong finish from Australia’s Kym Jaenke to win the women’s 35-39 years age group by three minutes.

Her winning time of 9h50m03s was the fastest of all age groups in the tough conditions at Kona-Kailua, with the usual extreme heat combined with fiercely strong trade winds.

After finishing third in the 30-34 years age group last year, Wicks stepped up to the new division with a superb performance. She was ninth out of the 3.8km swim in 1:02.41 before building a winning lead with a tremendous effort in fierce head winds on the 180km bike.

Wicks clocked 5:16.05 which was the third fastest of all women age groupers and only seven professionals sent quicker, and they had the benefit of a 15 minute head start as the strong winds built during the day.

She managed a 3hr25m15s marathon which held all competitors at bay in an ultra-competitive category.

Wicks was the only New Zealander to finish on the podium at Hawaii with seven top-10 finishers.

Closest was Auckland’s Anna Ross who was fourth in the 30-34 years age group in 10h16m26s, while fellow Aucklander’s Larissa Marsh was seventh in the 25-29 years category in 10h24m18s.

Among the leading lights was former world long distance medallist Jamie Hunt, making a return to the sport and qualifying in the 40-44 years age group, with top-10 finishers including Kumeu’s Tiare Lund who was seventh in the 65-69 years division and Taupo’s Neil Fleming who was sixth in the 75-59 years category.

Results:
Female,

25-29: Larissa Marsh (Auckland) 10:24.18, 7.
30-34: Anna Ross (Auckland ) 10:16.26, 4; Erin Furness (Hamilton) 10:31.15, 10; Helen Kay (Auckland) 11:40.47, 47.  

35-39: Hilary Wicks (Auckland, NZL) 9:50.03, 1; Kym Jaenke (AUS) 9:53.18, 2; Sheila Croft (USA) 10:00.55, 3. Also New Zealanders:  Gigi Green (Auckland ) 10:57.45, 22;

44-44: Sandra Boubee (Tauranga) 11:42.28, 48; Kim Dorling (Auckland) 12:30.54, 64.
45-49: Aimee Perrett (Feilding) 11:46.15, 26.
50-54: Sue McMaster (Palmerston North) 11:46.13, 8;
55-59: Debbie Clark (Tauranga) 12:54.55, 13.
60-64: Shirley Rolston(Christchurch) 14:46.02, 15.
65-59: Tiare Lund (Kumeu) 15:38.39, 7.

Male, 30-34: Andrew Black (Christchurch) 9:36.16, 33;
35-39: Andrew Howse (Auckland )9:26.40, 14; Scott Hotham (Auckland )10:28.37, 134; Jarrod Newell (Auckland )11:03.35, 169; Armando Galarraga (Auckland) 11:58.32, 184.
40-44: Jamie Hunt (Auckland) 9:40.26, 16; Jeff McGrath (new Plymouth) 10:08.19, 58; Phil Richards (Drury) 10:59.51, 162.
45-49: David Craig (Wellington) 10:49.36, 94;
50-54: Mark Burke (Wellington) 11:19.37, 65.
55-59: Graeme MacDonald (Whangarei) 11:20.55, 21; Brett Mudgway (Napier) 11:32.06, 28; Andrew Davidson (Auckland) 12:29.30, 45; David Moriarty (Havelock North) 12:44.29, 49.
60-64: Alan Fletcher (Manukau City) 12:57.44, 32; Kingi Smiler (Wellington) 13:22.19, 37.
75-79: Neil Fleming (Taupo) 15:56.44, 6.

PHOTO: Hilary Wicks (Auckland) celebrates after winning her age group at the ironman World Championship in Kona-Kailua, Hawaii today.
Credit: FinisherPix.

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