Legendary endurance athlete Cameron Brown made it the perfect 10 in less than perfect conditions at the 27th Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand in Taupo today.
The 38 year old Aucklander produced another faultless and commanding display to become the first triathlete in the world to win the same Ironman race 10 times.
It was a typically calculated performance from Brown, who broke away from main rivals near the end of the bike, engulfed leader Scott Curry from Canada early on the run to win in 8:31.07 on a day of continual rain, finishing ahead of fellow Terenzo Bozzone and Switzerland's Mathias Hecht.
While it was 10 times for Brown, it proved a rookie story of real emotion for Northland's Samantha Warriner, who won for the first time only 14 weeks since undergoing a heart procedure to correct a racing heart rate.
The former world number one ranked Olympic distance athlete no doubt had some palpitations in the excitement of her first Ironman victory, dominating for virtually all of the day after punctures waylaid seven times winner Jo Lawn and world champion Mirinda Carfrae.
Brown said it would take time for the feat to sink in.
"I used to go and watch this race in Auckland as a kid and dream about going in it. To win it once was fantastic. But to do it 10 times is pretty special," Brown said. "I've not really had the chance for it to sink it."
Asked where he felt his feat sat in ironman history, Brown was typically understated.
"I haven't won in Hawaii. That's what really counts. I would trade all my 10 wins here for one of those because that is the measure. That's not taking anything away from any of my wins here."
Would this be the end?
"I'll keep racing for as long as I am still passionate and love the training and the racing."
Brown trailled record-holder Brent Foster by four minutes out of the water and three minutes behind main challenger Bozzone after the 3.8km swim. Canadian Scott Curry moved strongly to the front on the bike as Brown caught up with with the main protagonists – Bozzone, well performed Hecht, Hamilton's Keegan Williams and James Bowstead by the 45km mark.
The champion pushed the pace and surprised when he rode off the front with 60km remaining which proved the winning move.
He rounded up Curry within 9kms on the run and went on to run 2:52.09 and win by 10 minutes.
Warriner, in her first Ironman on home turf, was out of the water at the front of the field with Japan's Maki Nishiuchi. She stretched her advantage but as the world champion Carfrae and defending champion Lawn pushed they succumbed to punctures that dented their prospects.
Warriner never had to push herself throughout the marathon as Carfrae scorched home in 3:01.05, bettered by only two male professionals, to run up to second place while Lawn recovered for third.
"It's very special. After all I have been through with the heart issues. And to achieve this in my first one here in New Zealand is special. Even though it was an awful day, the support out there was amazing."
Leading Times, Professionals
Men
1. Cameron Brown (NZL) 8:31.07
2. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 8:41.54
3. Mathias Hecht (SUI) 8:45.34
4. Keegan Williams (NZL) 8:49.34
5. Scott Curry (CAN) 8:50.44
6. Petr Vabrousek (CZE) 8:58.30
7. Tuukka Miettinen (FIN) 9:12.16
8. Gavin Scott (AUS) 9:15.10
9. Hiroyuki Nishiuchi (JPN) 9:25.39
10. James Bowstead (NZL) 9:39.38
Women
1. Samantha Warriner (NZL) 8:31.07
2. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 9:31.33
3. Joanna Lawn (NZL) 9:31.53
4. Kate Bevilaqua (AUS) 9:40.01
5. Belinda Harper (NZL) 9:40.33
For full results, see www.ironman.com.
