McCormack and Hauschildt blaze the field
Play
Triathlon legend Chris McCormack overcame his disappointing Laguna Phuket Triathlon debut last Sunday to stamp his authority over the Ironman 70.3 Laguna Phuket here yesterday.
It was a transformed “Macca” who held off the challenge of last weekend’s winner Ruedi Wild of Switzerland to complete the gruelling course of 1.9km swim, 90.1km bike ride and 21.1km run in four hours, 04:40 minutes.
The 39 year-old Aussie, a two-time Ironman world champion, got off to a great start in the swim and was with the leading pack in the bike course with Wild, American Chris Lieto, Italian Alberto Cassadei and German young gun Tim Meyer.
McCormack and Wild pulled away from the pack in the run, but the Australian stepped up a gear to stretch his lead and cross the finish line almost three minutes ahead of Wild, who followed in 04:07:17, and Meyer finished third overall in 04:07:32.
“I was more focused and better prepared for this race,” said McCormack, who finished a disappointing 8th at the last weekend’s Laguna Phuket Triathlon.
“With such conditions today it wasn’t about speed, but I played smart and it feels really great to win here, a place I’ve heard so much about and always wanted to race,” he said.
In a women’s field opened up by the last-minute withdrawal of Ironman 70.3 world champion Leanda Cave of Great Britain, Melissa Hauschildt made it a one-two for Australia with a solid defence of her 2011 title.
Hauschildt put up a plucky performance against Laguna Phuket Triathlon champion Radka Vodickova of Czech Republic and finished in 04:23:30. Vodickova was second in 04:31:46 and veteran Belinda Granger of Australia was third in 04:41:53.
“Radka managed to get a good lead on me but I passed her at the top of the first steep hill and I was pretty stoked by that,” said Hauschildt. “From then on I just focused on staying in the lead and I’m so pleased to have won here again – it’s the best race,” she said.
This year’s third and final Ironman 70.3 Laguna Phuket registered 947 individual entries and 19 relay teams, a total of 1,004 athletes representing 55 countries. The race offered a pro prize purse of US$ 25,000 and 35 slots for the 2013 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas.
Top Thai finisher was Phuket’s Jaray Jearanai in 04:37:00 and 19th overall. He also finished first among Thais at last weekend’s Laguna Phuket Triathlon.
