Kiwi multi-sport legend Cameron Brown has just missed out on an 11th Ironman New Zealand title, after finishing runner-up to Estonian Marko Albert in Taupo this afternoon, marking the event's 30th anniversary.
Last year's runner-up, Albert, led the 3.8km swim from start to finish, leading an eight-strong group, with Bevan Docherty and Terenzo Bozzone among those on his tail.
Defending woman's champion, Meredith Kessler, blitzed the swim, just 16 seconds shy of the course record.
Ten-time winner Cameron Brown trailed the front pack by 2.5 minutes as he began the180km ride, but that gap disappeared as Brown caught the leaders at the 80km mark.
Once they hit halfway, Albert made his move, breaking ahead of the pack and transitioning to the run with a 3.5-minute lead on the first chase pack. Brown, Bozzone and the defending champion, Docherty, were another three minutes back.
Despite suffering a puncture, Kessler continued to extend her lead over Kiwi Gina Crawford – almost seven minutes clear starting the final leg.
The men's Kiwi trio moved ahead and pounded the pavement on the hunt for Albert. Docherty eventually pulled out and Bozzone dropped off the pace, leaving Brown to chip away at the Estonian's lead on his own. In the end he ran out of time.
"I can't let all the emotions in because I will cry like a baby now, so I'll wait a little bit," said Albert.
Brown finished second, Bozzone third.
Today would also be Kessler's day, crossing the line for her third straight Ironman New Zealand title and in doing so creating a new course record.
3 News
source: newshub archive
