Seven time Ironman New Zealand champion Jo Lawn has won her second international triathlon in just six days across the Tasman.
Lawn followed her victory in the Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie with a superb win at Ironman 70.3 Western Australia in Busselton, south of Perth, today.
 Jo Lawn crossing the finish line(Photo: Triathlon NZ; click to enlarge) |
The 37 year old ran her way to victory in a course record 4:13:23 on the back of a personal best 1:22:57 for the 21km half marathon.
Lawn, a strong swimmer and noted cyclist, has won both races in Australia from behind on the run. Today she stood up Australians Belinda Granger and Elly Franks by three minutes off the bike, claiming the lead with 6kkms remaining. The Aucklander went on to win by two and a half minutes from former Ironman Australia champion Rebekah Keat with Granger third.
"I'm thrilled. Today I didn't have the best of bikes but I felt strong in the run. After winning last week there was not really any pressure on me today," Lawn said.
"I just focussed on the run and felt very strong throughout. That time is the best I've ever done over the half marathon so that's really encouraging."
She said that she learned much from running behind world champion Mirinda Carfrae at Ironman New Zealand in March.
"You just get to watch a supreme runner like her and you learn so much. It's a case of visualising that yourself, relaxing and going out and doing it. It's really encouraging for this time of year. I'm delighted with the form."
Lawn said she had changed her approach following Ironman New Zealand, concentrating on more quality than quantity in her training.
"I've done all the big miles so I have pulled back on that a bit and focussed on quality work. I have been back working on my run a little with my former coach Chris Pilone and that's helped too."
Lawn was first out of the 2km swim before Granger and Franks put the pressure on during the 90km bike to open the three minute buffer, with the kiwi heading on to the run with Keat.
She was the dominate figure on the run with her 1:22.57 effort more than two minutes quicker than the next fastest run.
Lawn will return to Auckland tomorrow for a build-up to her next Ironman in Texas, one of the two new continental championships which carry major qualifying points for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Port Macquarie's Tim Berkel, third at home last week, won the men's title with Guy Crawford the best of the kiwis in sixth and Bryan Rhodes 13th.
Results: Busselton 70.3 Half Ironman
Women
1. Jo Lawn (NZL) 4:13:23
2. Rebekah Keat (AUS) 4:15:55
3. Belinda Granger (AUS) 4:16:35
Men
Tim Berkel (AUS) 3:51:27
Matt White (AUS) 3:53:50
Tim Reed (AUS) 3:53:59
Also New Zealanders
6. Guy Crawford 3:58:15
13. Bryan Rhodes 4:09:05
For full results, see www.ironman.com.
