10 Oct 2011

Kumeu triathlon legend wins Ironman World title

5:37 am on 10 October 2011

The veteran New Zealand triathlete Tiare Lund has added another world title to her long list at this weekend's Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Lund took out the women's 65-69 years title in the gruelling race run in sweltering conditions on Hawaii's Big Island at Kona-Kailua.

The New Zealander is a multi-world championship medallist over both the Olympic and Ironman distances, but made a return to Hawaii after injury sidelined her for much of 2009 and 2010.

The 66-year-old led from the start and was the first out of the 3.8km swim in 1:27.13, stretching that advantage with a 6:46.26 time for the 180km bike and was the only athlete in her age group to dip under five hours for the 42.2km marathon run.

Lund won in 13:25.04, to be more than 15 minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

Her performance was the highlight for the New Zealanders and of her outstanding career.

Lund sparked an outstanding world championship for the 38 New Zealand age group competitors, with seven finishing in the top-10 as well as a silver medal to Levin's Gary Burgess in the men's 55-59 years age group, and bronze medal to Auckland's Hilary Wicks in the women's 30-34 years.

The standard of age group performances was staggering.

None more so that the men's 30-34 years age group where Otago's Rob Creasy clocked an ultra competitive time of 9:17.48, which would have been in the top 32 in the professional race, but could do no better than 26th in his age group, which arguably had the harder of the wind conditions.

The first four finishers in this age group went under the nine hour barrier, usually the domain of professionals only.