TRIATHLON

The King of Taupo looks for more

By Sports Media NZ

Can IRONMAN’S most remarkable 43-year-old defy all odds and add to his extraordinary record at the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand on Saturday?

Cameron Brown will wear the No 1 bib for the 15^th time in 19 starts at the event and will defend the title he won for the 11^th time last year.

Both men’s and women’s fields are stacked in quality and quantity as many professionals headed across the Tasman in the fallout from the cancelled race in Melbourne.

Brown enjoyed a fantastic first half to 2015 winning his first IRONMAN New Zealand in four years and second at IRONMAN Cairns. He is primed and ready in his return to his Kingdom of Taupo.

“It is the race that has made me as an athlete and I’ve a lot to thank the race,” said Brown. “It has given me a lot of coverage and lot of support and winning that race has held a lot of importance for me.”

Last year’s podium returns in compatriots Terenzo Bozzone and Dylan McNeice.

Bozzone has finished second four times, and the 30 year old father believes he now knows what it takes to reach the top.

“In any IRONMAN race you are bound to have those really tough moments and it is understanding how to deal with those bad patches and knowing that you will come through the other side that is key. Cameron Brown has that nailed. I just have to back myself.”

McNeice believes he has learned much from his podium finish last year, working hard with coach Tim Brazier to improve his bike strength.

“If I can get off the bike in a good place and if the run legs are there I’m in with a good shot.”
A mob of internationals are set to pounce.

Frenchman Cyril Viennot was fifth at Hawaii in 2014 and sixth last year, along with victory in IRONMAN UK and the ITU World Long Distance title.

Exciting American Matt Hanson ran 2:47 to win IRONMAN Chattanooga in a course record and set a course record 8:07 to win in Texas last year.

Watch for Australian Paul Matthews who was sixth on debut at Melbourne in 8:05 three years ago followed by runner-up at Arizona. He returned in 2014 to clock 8:02 to finish runner-up at the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship.

Compatriot Alex Reithmeier is a solid Australian who was fourth last year after podiums at Port Macquarie and Western Australia.

Kiwi Dougal Allen is another of the teak-tough southern men who have gained global recognition in multisport and adventure racing. He turned his attentions to IRONMAN with third on debut at Wanaka ion 2014 followed by runner-up at IRONMAN Sweden last year.


Cameron Brown in action in Taupo last year. Photo © Delly Carr)

The field includes a number of talented Kiwis including Callum Millward and Mark Bowstead who have both won in the IRONMAN 70.3 circuit in USA, while the field includes Coast to Coast winner Sam Clark.

American Meredith Kessler will return to her home away from home to chase her fifth straight win.
The Californian has formed a close affinity with Taupo, and zeros in on the record of six titles of Kiwi legend Jo Lawn.

“The course just makes my heart sing,” said Kessler, the women's course record holder. “A cool, clear fresh water swim in gorgeous Lake Taupo, rolling bike terrain on a tougher chip seal and a run along the shoreline to streaming fans of people.”

Like the men, the podium from last year is back in the form of Kiwis Gina Crawford and Melanie Burke.
Crawford has 13 iron distance wins in her career including IRONMAN New Zealand in 2009, with runner-up in each of the last three years and never off the podium at Taupō.

“IRONMAN New Zealand has proved a bit of a heartbreak race for me in the past. The course doesn’t particularly suit me. I will prepare well and not put too much pressure on myself to perform.”

Burke mixes a fulltime corporate career with the sport as a former international rower, winner of the Zofingen duathlon, world championship road cyclist and now with three IRONMAN podiums last year.

American doctor Amanda Stevens, an outstanding swimmer, has won IRONMAN Brazil and had three podiums at the distance last year while Australian-based Kiwi Michelle Bremer who won IRONMAN Australia last year.

German Mareen Hufe has five IRONMAN podiums to her credit, while Australian Carrie Lester added her second IRONMAN title at Chattanooga last year.

Watch too for Britain’s Lucy Gossage who has three IRONMAN wins and two podiums to her credit along with American Mackenzie Madison with two podiums in last two years, and popular Australian Kate Bevilaqua who has three IRONMAN victories.

The race has drawn powerful professional field chasing nearly NZ$115,000 in prize purse while 1350 age groupers from 51 countries will chase 55 qualifying spots for the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii.

Details: www.ironman.co.nz