October 12, 2008 - The British triathlete Chrissie Wellington broke the women’s triathlon marathon record over the weekend as she won a second consecutive Ironman world championship in Hawaii, confirming her as one of the dominant athletes in the discipline and proving that last year’s shock win was no fluke.
If you are a triathlete, there is no bigger day in this sport than the Ironman World Championship. It is the race that defines the sport.
To get to the starting line in Kona, Hawaii, you must either be very lucky and get yourself a spot through the lottery, or be very talented, and win yourself a qualifying spot at one of the qualifying events held around the world.
Tens-of-thousands of triathletes try to get one of those coveted Ironman spots every year. Only 1,800 succeed. Competitors this year ranged in age from 18-year-olds Tyler Foster and Ariel Henbest of the host city of Kailua-Kona to 79-year-old Loren Leonard of Hawthhorne, Calif. Seventy-two-year-old Harriet Anderson of San Carlos, Calif., was the oldest female competitor.
Wellington’s repeat as champion came in a blazing 9:06:23, crushing the women’s field and beating her next closest finisher by 15 minutes. That time includes her 2:57:44 marathon which bested some of the top-10 men’s finishers.
You can track each of her segments, and even watch her cross the finish line, on the official Ironman site.
The 31-year-old Wellington won despite suffering a tire puncture on the cycling leg of the event.
Fellow competitor Rebekah Keat came to her rescue as the Australian stopped to hand Wellington a working cartridge, enabling the defending champion to continue.
“I have to say a huge thanks to Rebekah, she’s a legend,” Wellington told reporters. “To me what she did epitomises everything that is good about the sport. Without it, I wouldn’t have finished.”
The men’s race was won by Craig Alexander of Australia.
Ironman World Championship
Distance:
2.4 mile swim • 112 mile bike • 26.2 mile run
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