Kiwi Ironman Stars Impress in World Championship Shakedown

New Zealand triathletes Gina Crawford and Joanna Lawn have found top form leading into next month’s Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Crawford, the 2009 Ironman New Zealand champion, set a course record in dominating Ironman Wisconsin by more than 12 minutes, setting a new race record of 9:27.26 in the process.

Meanwhile seven-time Ironman New Zealand winner Lawn finished runner-up to Australian Mirinda Carfrae in the Ironman 70.3 race in Muskoka, Canada.

Both were using the races as a final shakedown to the Ironman World Championships in Kona on The Big Island on 9 October.

Crawford (Christchurch) recorded her fifth Ironman victory and broke the course record that she set in her first win over the distance at Wisconsin in 2007.

It marked an important result for the Cantabrian who had suffered from stomach issues and injury over the past few months. She was also motivated by the news of the earthquakes in Canterbury.

“I am super happy to win. I was thinking about the people back home during the race and it helped me get through all the rough patches,” Crawford said. “I’ve been thinking of all my friends and family back home and feeling for everyone who has suffered at home.”

Crawford was a close second out of the 3.8km swim and quickly grabbed the lead and from there was never threatened, establishing a 13 minute advantage with the fastest bike split of 5:12:50 and then running a steady 3:14:22 marathon to win comfortably from Germany’s Kristin Moeller.

“My race plan is always when I feel good I just push it as hard as I can and I was really happy with my bike. Then I got to the run and finished with a pain in my side with 10 miles to go so I was really happy.”

Lawn also had a strong hit out before Kona, running second to Carfrae, who was runner-up at the Ironman World Championships last year.

The Australian led by more than three minutes off the 90km bike from Lawn before a strong 1:18:15 split for the 21km run gave the Hawaii run record holder the win by 12 minutes.

Lawn was pleased with her solid performance which sets her up for a final four weeks preparation in Hawaii after coming down from her altitude base in Colorado.

Results:
Ironman Wisconsin: Gina Crawford (NZL) 9:27:26, 1; Kristin Moeller (GER) 9:39.43, 2; Mirjam Weerd (NLD) 9:52:25, 3.

Ironman 70.3 Muskoka: Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 4:28.36, 1; Jo Lawn (NZL) 4:40.52, 2; Claudia Johnston (USA) 4:51:16, 3.