Hot runs on a cold, wet day proved the difference at IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns. In cold and wet conditions Brad Kahlefeldt produced a trademark run to go one better than last year to win Flight Centre Active Travel IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Candice Hammond capped off a stellar season to date with her first IRONMAN 70.3 win in the women’s race.
Men’s Race
The men’s race saw a group of five athletes including defending champion Courtney Atkinson, Kahlefeldt, Clayton Fettell, Joe Lampe and Sam Appleton exit the water within seconds of each other. In persistent rain the group of five were joined by Melbourne professional Tom Rodgers on the bike.
A puncture at the 48 km mark ruined any chance Atkinson had of defending his title. That left Kahlefeldt, Fettell, Tim Reed, Sam Appleton, Sam Betten and Rodgers to fight it out on the run.
Kahlefeldt quickly stamped his authority on the race and finished with a 1:12:28 run leg to take the win, Reed ran strongly to take second, with Clayton Fettell rounding out the podium.
"I had some outstanding competition out there today and they really put it to me. This is a fast race and the boys swam and rode hard and I am very happy to come away with the win," says Kahlefeldt. "I just had to put my head down and go. It was non-stop adrenaline the whole way. It’s a very testing course here in Cairns and I knew that from last year. My bike has improved a lot and all credit to my training partners. I am absolutely rapt with the win today. I knew I was in good shape on the bike. I have improved a lot in the last six months and today I knew I had to stick with it."
Women’s Race
Hammond is enjoying her best year as a fledgling professional, adding the win here to her third place at March’s IRONMAN New Zealand.
"It was definitely unexpected to get this win today," she said after taking advantage when IRONMAN Asia-Pacific champion Caroline Steffen punctured while leading with a comfortable margin. "I am really happy to get this result. Cairns is a great place. The temperature wasn’t too bad. Despite the rain, it was actually quite good race conditions."
Steffen built a commanding lead late in the bike leg only to succumb to a puncture and pull out of the race.
From there it was Kiwi Hammond who took the win after an excellent run, getting home over four minutes ahead of Japan’s Kiyomi Niwata with another New Zealander, Anna Russell, in third.
Women:
Candice Hammond (NZL) 4:24:02
Kiyomi NIWATA (JPN) 4:28:47
Anna RUSSELL (NZL) 4:31:51
Lisa MARANGON (AUS) 4:32:36
Tineke STEWART (AUS) 4:34:59
Men:
Brad KAHLEFELDT(AUS) 3:50:53
Tim REED (AUS) 3:51:21
Clayton FETTELL (AUS) 3:53:17
Sam APPLETON (AUS) 3:54:33
Sam BETTEN (AUS) 3:56:45