Tim Berkel was not going to start and Kate Bevilaqua had never won – but both triumphed at IRONMAN 70.3 Busselton today. Tim Berkel is sic. And he was really sick but that did not stop him bouncing back to win IRONMAN 70.3 Busselton in Western Australia today. He spent much of last week in bed and seriously considered withdrawing from the race, but instead found top form with a 1:13.26 run over 21.1km to claim the victory. “I am so stoked because I was really crook last week. I guess the enforced rest actually freshened me up really well. It’s weird,” Berkel said.
He found himself out of the water in the front group which proved the key. “The conditions were perfect. The water was like glass. So I had a great swim and get out with the top guys.”
A group of nine pushed clear on the bike before two-time Olympian Courtney Atkinson pushed clear at the start of the run. “I thought with his ITU background that he would be gone. But at the end of the first lap he had not got any further ahead. So I decided on the second lap to have a dig.”
Berkel pushed clear of Sam Appleton and then a further push saw him close upon the leader. “I decided to whack him straight away and he didn’t respond. I know Courtney had an Xterra last week and it must have affected him because he was walking the last part.”
Berkel is delighted with the win, coupled with his second placing at Mandurah and fourth at ironman New Zealand, he has continued to pick up good points in his quest for a special birthday gift. “I’m 30 this year and decided I want to do Hawaii. I have Cairns coming up and hopefully with a good race that will get me qualified.”
Sydney’s Alex Reithmeir got up for second with Sam Appleton just 10 seconds back in third, with the podium all within 32 seconds.
Women’s Race
Kate Bevilaqua, a much accomplished IRONMAN athlete, always likes coming home to Western Australia. Except for one thing. She had never won an IRONMAN 70.3 race. Anywhere. Until today. “I have had three second places here before. And last year I had three seconds here, Muncie and Taiwan and was third at Lake Stevens,” Bevilaqua said. “I was starting to wonder.”
Pre-race favourite Annabel Luxford overcame a one minute penalty for late arrival to lead out of the swim, before heading off into the distance on the bike. Bevilaqua enjoyed the conditions to come out of the swim in second place in what is her Achilles heel. “I was really pleased. That was a good swim for me, but then I just wanted to settle into by race plan on the bike.”
Early on the second lap Bevilaqua saw Luxford pull off the course and withdraw, later tweeting that she had not recovered sufficiently from a respiratory infection.
Bevilaqua was then caught by 2013 IRONMAN Australia champion Rebecca Hoschke and Kiwi Anna Russell and the trio remained together into T2. “I was worried because both of them are good runners and I have not run well this year,” said Bevilaqua.
Russell dropped off and gradually Bevilaqua edged clear of the chasing Hoschke – 30 seconds up after lap one, and a minute by lap two. “I was just running scared the whole way but really made it hurt and held on well for the win. It is amazing. My first 70.3 win and it is here at my home.”
And if she needed any further boost, her outstanding 1:25.13 run split showed her running legs have definitely returned.
Hoschke held on for second place two minutes back with Western Australia’s Katy Duffield claimed her first professional podium.
Men
1. Tim Berkel AUS 3:43.07
2. Alex Reithmeir AUS 3:43.29
3. Sam Appleton AUS 3:43.39
4. Sam Betten AUS 3:48.24
5. Casey Munro NZL 3:49.51
Women
1. Kate Bevilaqua AUS 4:19.06
2. Rebecca Hoschke AUS 4:21.11
3. Katy Duffield AUS 4:24.12
4. Renne Baker AUS 4:25.40
5. Belinda Granger AUS 4:26.14