Auckland Ironman becomes world champion in Hawaii
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.