CROWIE CROWNED KONA KING ON AUSTRALIA DAY IN HAWAII

Posted in Other News

Pete-Jacobs-Paul-Phillips-Competitive-Image.jpgTriathlon, Octrober 9, 2011: Australia's ownership of the world's great triathlon has continued in Kona today with Sydney's 38-year-old Craig Alexander setting a new race record in a triumphant win in the gruelling Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon World Championship. AAP report.

The 38-year-old Sydneysider conquered the Kona lava fields in 8hrs 03mins 56 seconds - just 12 seconds under the race record of 8:04.08 set by Belgian Luc Van Lierde in 1996 in another extraordinary sporting performance by an Australian in 2011.

The man they call "Crowie" has now entered legendary status in the world of triathlon in what many keen judges are describing as the great ever Australian Triathlon victory - in the world's toughest race.

Alexander has joined the legends of the sport, including USA pair Dave Scott and Mark Allen and Canada's Peter Reid as only the fourth athlete to win the title a third time.

Despite cramping in the dying stages, which saw him recovering in the medical tent after the race, Alexander hung on to record his third and most satisfying Kona victory.

"I wish I could tell you how it feels," Alexander said after the race. "It's unbelievable... It's the finish I've been dreaming of."

His victory continued Australia's amazing Hawaiian ironman Triathlon domination with fellow Aussie Pete Jacobs, from the Sydney Northern Beaches, ensuring Australia's second ever quinella in the men's race.

Thirty-year-old Jacobs confirmed his potential with a sterling silver, following his eighth and ninth in 2009 and 2010, clocking the fastest marathon run split for the second-straight year and finishing in 8:09:11.

The Gold Coast's Luke McKenzie also had his best finish in the race, coming home ninth in 8:25:42 with two other Australians taking top 20 finishes - Courtney Ogden 16th and Joe Gambles 20th.IRONMAN TRIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONS

According to Trizone the 33rd staging of the famous race today's race went according to script from the start.

Craig-Alexander-photo-by-Larry-Rosa.jpg Chrissie-Wellington-photo-by-Larry-Rosa.jpg

The women's race saw defending Mirinda Carfrae charge to a fast finishing second to the legendary Brit Chrissie Wellington with Australian-born Leanda Cave, now racing for Great Britain, third. Sky News report.

Carfrae was fourth, about four minutes behind Wellington, with 10km left and she rallied and broke the women's run record for the third-straight year.

Wellington finished in 8:55:08, the second-fastest women's time in race history, and Carfrae clocked 8:57:57, the fourth-best.

Carfrae's sizzling run split of 2:52:09, broke the 2:53 record she set last year. Trizone Report.

Pos

Name

Country

Swim

Bike

Run

Finish

1

Alexander, Craig

USA / AUS

0:51:56

4:24:05

2:44:02

8:03:56

2

Jacobs, Pete

AUS / AUS

0:51:38

4:31:02

2:42:29

8:09:11

3

Raelert, Andreas

GER / GER

0:51:58

4:26:52

2:47:47

8:11:07

4

Bockel, Dirk

LUX / LUX

0:51:44

4:24:17

2:53:03

8:12:58

5

Bracht, Timo

GER / GER

0:53:37

4:35:07

2:47:25

8:20:12

6

Aigroz, Mike

SWI / SUI

0:52:31

4:30:43

2:54:07

8:21:07

7

Tissink, Raynard

RSA / RSA

0:52:08

4:28:40

2:56:36

8:22:15

8

Boecherer, Andi

GER / GER

0:51:49

4:25:45

3:01:43

8:23:19

9

McKenzie, Luke

USA / AUS

0:51:47

4:24:15

3:05:54

8:25:42

10

Al-Sultan, Faris

ARE / GER

0:51:55

4:29:32

3:01:40

8:27:18

11

Lowe, Tom

GBR / GBR

0:58:55

4:26:27

2:58:54

8:29:02

12

Fontana, Daniel

ITA / ITA

0:51:54

4:30:58

3:04:04

8:31:20

13

Albert, Marko

EST / EST

0:51:43

4:36:42

3:02:55

8:35:18

14

Henning, Rasmus

ESP / DEN

0:51:48

4:31:11

3:08:49

8:35:53

15

Viennot, Cyril

FRA / FRA

0:55:58

4:44:50

2:51:56

8:37:00

16

Ogden, Courtney

AUS / AUS

0:57:14

4:40:35

2:55:28

8:38:11

17

Potts, Andy

USA / USA

0:49:44

4:37:32

3:07:19

8:38:36

18

Goehner, Michael

GER / GER

0:57:17

4:36:55

3:01:04

8:39:38

19

Major, Jozsef

HUN / HUN

1:06:57

4:31:39

2:56:24

8:39:52

20

Gambles, Joe

AUS / AUS

0:51:59

4:31:07

3:12:56

8:40:40

21

Lovato, Michael

USA / USA

0:53:46

4:47:07

2:56:20

8:42:39

22

Twelsiek, Maik

USA / GER

0:52:01

4:26:28

3:20:14

8:43:03

23

Russell, Matthew

USA / USA

1:06:47

4:37:41

2:54:41

8:43:51

24

Mikelson, Ian

USA / USA

0:53:47

4:45:44

3:04:18

8:48:40

25

Raphael, Jan

GER / GER

0:53:50

4:42:31

3:08:09

8:48:44

26

Schifferle, Mike

SWI / SUI

1:07:05

4:37:31

2:59:09

8:49:01

27

Reed, Matty

USA / USA

0:51:41

4:43:41

3:09:59

8:50:00

28

Zeebroek, Axel

BEL / BEL

0:52:00

4:53:35

3:07:35

8:58:13