Australian swim leaders Jack Tierney and defending champion Lindsey Lawry worked together to pushed clear to a 3 minute lead into T2. But American Kevin Collington had the strongest running legs with his impressive 1:14 effort setting up the victory in 4:00:29 which was 2mins clear of Kiwi Jack Moody (1:15) with Sam Betten a further minute back. It was a day when the runners had the final say.
New Zealand’s Rebecca Clarke was favoured in the women, as she led from the 25:24 swim which stretched to nearly 2 minutes before her chain stuck and she fell late in the bike. The result was American Marry Robbins and Courtney Gilfillan assumed the lead on to the run by 3 minutes from Clarke with Gilfillan’s 1:25 effort securing a comfortable win by 8 minutes from South Africa’s Mariella Sawyer and a distressed Clarke who soldiered home in third.
Men's Podium
1 Collington, Kevin USA 4:00:29
2 Moody, Jack NZL 4:02:36
3 Betten, Sam AUS 4:03:12
Women's Podium
1 Gilfillan, Courtney AUS 4:30:53
2 Sawyer, Mariella ZAF 4:39:01
3 Clarke, Rebecca NZL 4:42:02