Browsing articles tagged with "triathlon Archives - Today in Phuket"
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.

Ironman Champion Leanda Cave

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.

Sep
19

Ironman Champ coming to Laguna Phuket

By admin  //  Phuket News  //  No Comments

Ironman 70.3 World Champion to Race Laguna Phuket

In a major coup for Ironman 70.3 Laguna Phuket, recently-crowned 2012 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Leanda Cave has joined the ranks of top professional athletes set to appear at this year’s event.

Welsh Superstar Cave’s entry sets up Thrilling Title Duel

Cave signed up for Laguna Phuket less than 24 hours after completing her epic World Championship victory in Las Vegas on 9 October – and before resuming training for her next title bid at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on 13 October.

Her Laguna confirmation has set up a thrilling duel with 2011 Ironman 70.3 World Champion and defending Laguna Phuket 70.3 Champion Melissa Hauschildt of Australia – beaten into fourth place in Las Vegas by Cave – who will be eager not to lose another title to the Welsh superstar.

 

“To have the brand new Ironman 70.3 World Champion immediately accept our invitation to race at Laguna Phuket is a testament to the drawing power and popularity which characterises our race on the pro circuit,” said Debbie Dionysius, Assistant Vice President of Destination Marketing, Laguna Phuket.

 

“Attracting such top talent is an indication of the international stature we’ve achieved and we’re looking forward to a fantastic display of world-class competition.”

 The competitive mix

The Laguna Phuket 2012 competitive mix is also fuelled by Czech Olympian Radka Vodickova and Australian veteran Belinda Granger – both vying to become the first women’s Triple Champion of Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT), a week earlier on 25 November – and also with points to prove in the 70.3.

 

Cave, an ITU World Long Distance Champion, is hitting peak form in the run-up to Kona and Laguna, 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.

Born in the UK, Cave emigrated as a child to Australia, before moving back to the UK with her Welsh mother. She now lives and trains in Tucson, Arizona and races for both Wales and Great Britain.

 

Cave is no stranger to Phuket, having raced LPT in 2006 when she was second-placed behind Canadian Samantha McGlone, who then went on to become 2007 Ironman 70.3 World Champion.

 

Hauschildt, currently battling back from an injury-hit season, made a determined defence of her World 70.3 title in Las Vegas, but her fourth place was more than seven minutes behind Cave’s winning time of 4:28:05.

 

At Laguna Phuket she’ll be aiming to hold off the challenges of Cave, Rodickova, Granger and a field of other top pros to hold onto her 2011title, which she won with a course record of 4:17:01.