IRONMAN\u2019s 40th anniversary was celebrated in grand style with a sprint, fall, stumble, lunge finish in the women\u2019s event between Switzerland\u2019s Nina Derron and Melbourne rookie Grace Thek.<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s race also lived up to the excellence of the preceding decades with a stunning performance by defending champion Sam Appleton.<\/p>\n
Spectators had been enthralled by the epic battle between Appleton, Josh Amberger, Jake Montgomery and Ryan Fisher but it went up a notch in the physical rollercoaster that was the women\u2019s event, with Derron just pipping Thek for the win.<\/p>\n
Derron\u2019s win was her first over the Ironman 70.3 distance and while ecstatic with the result, she had great sympathy for Thek.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really struggled on the second lap of the run. I just had to stay focussed because I knew that Grace was flying and I just tried to hold on to the lead for as long as possible. There were huge mind games going on in my head and people were telling me to go get her. She was 50 metres in front with only a 100 metres to go but I knew I couldn\u2019t out sprint her. I saw her starting to stumble and then she fell and all I saw was the finish line and I accelerated and came past her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a really strange finish to a really crazy day. I am happy for my win but I am also sad for Grace that it happened. It was her first 70.3 race so she did a really good job. It was another lesson I learned, that it is not over until it is over. Never give up, it is really true.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the men\u2019s race, Appleton pulled it all together in the final leg, the run, and come away with victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the first race of the year and you don\u2019t really know what to expect. I knew if I was fit, I just didn\u2019t know if I was race fit. I gave it my best shot and fortunately I was able to come away with the win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am honoured to be here in Geelong and be able to back up and defend my title. It is a great course here in Geelong, I love it. It is beautiful and one of my favourite races. It is really challenging on the run. The course profile doesn\u2019t show it but it is a really hard run. It has a bit of everything. I can\u2019t wait to come back, I love opening up the season here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IRONMAN\u2019s 40th anniversary was celebrated in grand style with a sprint, fall, stumble, lunge finish in the women\u2019s event between Switzerland\u2019s Nina Derron and Melbourne rookie Grace Thek. The men\u2019s race also lived up to the excellence of the preceding decades with a stunning performance by defending champion Sam Appleton. Spectators had been enthralled by […]<\/p>\n