Oct
14

Ironman Champions

By admin // Events, Phuket News // 1 Comment

Ironman Champions

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii , Oct. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — New Ironman champions were crowned as Pete Jacobs (AUS) and Leanda Cave (GBR) overtook a challenging, world-class field under difficult conditions at the 2012 IRONMAN World Championship presented by myList. Jacobs, who finished second at last year’s race, captured his first IRONMAN World Championship title. Finishing in 8:18:37, the Australian ran his way to the title after beginning the marathon more than seven minutes behind Marino Vanhoenacker , who led off the bike. An Australian has claimed the men’s title at the last six consecutive IRONMAN World Championship races. Cave had a solid race from start to finish and overcame surges by multiple competitors throughout the run to secure her first IRONMAN World Championship title, crossing the line in 9:15:54.

Jacobs excelled over an impressive men’s field that included last year’s third place finisher Andreas Raelert (DEU), Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) and last year’s champion Craig Alexander (AUS). Andy Potts (USA ) exited the water first for the second year in a row, but Vanhoenacker (BEL), Sebastian Kienle (DEU) and Jacobs established themselves through the lava fields of the bike course with the Belgian and German ultimately pulling away just before the turn-around in Hawi . Kienle got a flat tire, leaving Vanhoenacker to lead the way into T2 with the lead. He held his position for almost 16 miles of the run until Jacobs, who posted last year’s fastest run-split, made the pass to take the lead. The rest of the race was a dash to the finish as the Aussie secured the title in convincing fashion.

“It still hasn’t sunk in, it’s all a bit surreal how it happened,” Jacobs said after the race. “I was confident heading into the race that I could do it, and I just still can’t believe it finally happened.”
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1q1cx)

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1q1cx)

The great news for Phuket is that Cave is scheduled to race this December at the Laguna Phuket Ironman. The full story is here Cave, an ITU World Long Distance Champion, has been hitting peak form in the run-up to Kona and today has proved her fitness.

Laguna Phuket Ironman race will now be awesome, despite an indifferent start to the year that followed a spectacular end to her 2011 season when she recorded a third-place finish at the Ironman World Championship, a win at Ironman 70.3 Miami, runner-up finish at the ITU World Long Distance Championship in Las Vegas and her first Ironman title in Arizona. Cave can now look forward to a thrilling duel with 2011 Ironman 70.3 World Champion and defending Laguna Phuket 70.3 Champion Melissa Hauschildt of Australia and fellow Australian Belinda Granger and a field of other top pros on the first weekend in December.