NewsNew Champions for Panthers Ironman Australia Triathlon
Karen Doane recaps an exciting day of racing in Port Macquarie
Published Sunday, April 1, 2007
It paid to be under the radar before this year's 2007 Panthers Ironman Australia Triathlon. Both this year's men's and women's champions kept quiet and kept their training secrets just that, secret, as they prepared for victory today.
New Caledonia's Patrick Vernay is no stranger to the podium here in Port Macquarie, or on stage in Kona, yet prior to today first place has eluded him. Today was his day in Australia as he decided to take the lead as quickly as possible and his strategy worked.
Coming out of the water in fifth, and only 11 seconds off the front, Vernay took off on the bike and never looked back. He did have company with Cameron Watt most of the day but pulled away with 50 km remaining on the bike. On a day where the winds began to gust a solid 25 knots (and usually a headwind) Vernay came off the bike in a fantastic time of 5:32:10, ahead of his closest competitors by nearly four minutes.
“I have been working very hard on my run, especially when I heard Jason Shortis would be here,” smiled Vernay. “I did not want the same result as last year so I concentrated on my run.”
Certainly thinking of last year’s contest with eventual winner Chris McCormack, Vernay simply put the past behind him and a concentrated on staying in front.
And in front he stayed even as renowned marathon runner Jason Shortis began to bridge the gap between the two with only 10 km left. But Vernay kept his cool and his pace, turning in a marathon of 2:49:38 to become this year’s champion with an overall time of 8:21:49.
Advertisement
“I just have to thank everyone out on the course today for helping me win,” said Vernay after he crossed the line. “It was a tough day out there and the people supporting me kept me going. I am so happy to win here today, especially with my father competing and my mother here to watch us both. It is very special.”
Jason Shortis, previously a 12-time finisher but never the winner, once again came across in second place holding back tears, in a time of 8:25:34. Shortis said it was very difficult to come in second place once again but credits his wife, Nicole, and his children for being his inspiration and the most important thing in his life.
Rounding out the top three was Craig Alexander in his Ironman debut. Never having run a marathon before, Alexander stayed steady even though he ran most of the run alone and says he “learned a lot.”
For the women, an exciting race with three women staying close together throughout the day had everyone checking splits at every opportunity. But it was Australian Rebekah Keat coming across the finish in first. Not only was this her first win here at the Panthers Ironman Australia Triathlon, Keat is the first Australian woman to win here since 1992.Coming out of the water in second place, and only seconds ahead of pre-race favorite Belinda Granger, Keat stayed close to Granger on the bike despite having a loose bike seat.
“I had to stay on my legs for most of the third lap on the bike because my seat wasn’t set up properly,” said a sore but happy Keat. “Towards the end of the bike I just couldn’t stay with Belinda’s pace and had to just get ready to run.”
Granger and Melissa Ashton came off their bikes over eight minutes ahead of Keat and were flying out of transition. But after a 5:18:26 bike split, Keat made a quick transition and was soon in hot pursuit of the two running ahead of her.
“I just knew I had to run hard even though I was in a lot of pain,” winced a very tired Keat. “I just had to think about the win and not the pain.”
So, at the 25 km mark on the run, Keat overtook Granger for the lead and moved further and further ahead as she raced to the finish. With a superb marathon run time of 3:04:06, Keat became this year’s women’s champion in 9:12:59.
Keeping consistent with her comments about the day, Keat said upon finishing, “I’ve never been in so much pain in my entire life.” She was however giving high-fives to her friends as she made it to the medical tent.
Pushing incredibly hard on the run as she did throughout the day, Belinda Granger held on to finish second, again.
“I just don’t know what I need to do to win this thing!” laughed a frustrated Granger. “But I was speaking to Melissa (Ashton) before the race and always knew Bek (Keat) would be a threat today.”
Just over a minute behind Granger, Melissa Ashton came across the line in third; making it an Australian clean sweep on the podium for the women.
You can check out the entire day's action under the "Race Coverage" tab on the Panthers Ironman Australia page on the site.
