 Sam Warriner winning Ironman 70.3in Cairns (Photo: Media Unlimited; click to enlarge) |
Near perfect conditions set the day in Cairns early on today. Leading out of the water and onto the bike, Sam Warriner took control early on and held onto the lead of up to nine minutes off the bike and onto the run.
"This is my fifth race in five weeks. I love racing in Australia and to come back nine months after having a baby is just brilliant. I am so happy today," said Warriner after crossing the finish line.
"Once you get out on the coast the rolling hills along the coastline are just beautiful here in Cairns. It's a tough course, you don't realise how undulating it is and the wind was there the whole time."
Kiyomi Niwata from Australia finished strongly for second place reducing Warriner's lead of nine minutes off the bike to just over one minute.
In the mens race it was Courtney Atkinson who took first place from Brad Kahlefeldt (2nd) and Tim Reed (3rd). Kiwi Graham O'Grady finished in 6th and Braden Currie in 8th place.
"It was really tough conditions out there today," said Courtney Atkinson on his win today. "Every single person is going to earn their place in the Ironman event today."
Results: Ironman Cairns 70.3
Women
1 Samantha WARRINER (NZL) 4:39:18
2 Kiyomi NIWATA (AUS) +00:01:06
3 Kym JAENKE (AUS) +-00:00:5
4 Ange CASTLE (AUS) +00:06:22
5 Matilda RAYNOLDS (AUS) +00:07:13
6 Rachael SMITH (AUS) +00:03:42
7 Rebecca HOSCHKE (AUS) +00:10:37
8 Kristy HALLETT (AUS) +00:16:54
9 Olivia LATIMER (AUS) +00:18:09
10 Rosie MCGEOCH (AUS) +00:21:46
Men
1 Courtney ATKINSON (AUS) 3:56:33
2 Brad KAHLEFELDT (AUS) +00:00:51
3 Tim REED (AUS) +00:03:19
4 Pete JACOBS (AUS) +00:03:31
5 Sam APPLETON (AUS) +00:06:58
6 Graham O'GRADY (NZL) +00:07:47
7 Casey MUNRO (AUS) +00:11:43
8 Braden CURRIE (NZL) +00:13:55
9 Sam BETTEN (AUS) +00:24:23
10 Brad WAUER (AUS) +00:25:15
