Iron will of athletes delivers them across the line
Ironman Cairns
Nick Thompson and Penny Slater both won their first ironman races at the Ironman Cairns on Sunday.
In a race where the cyclists ride up the Captain Cook Highway to Craiglie twice, Thompson, of Western Australia, took the win in 7:49:48, more than seven minutes clear of Canberra’s Ben Hill, with Japan’s Jumpei Furuya third.
Thompson was emotional after the race.
“The win means everything,” he said.
“First ironman win being in Australia, in front of the Cairns crowd, which showed me so much support last year and again this year.
“When you race overseas, you don't really get that and it makes such a huge difference.
“When you're basically in a 5K radius of the finish line, it's like you don't even have to fight any demons, someone everywhere yelling at you.
“So, super, super special to do it here.”
Thompson, 26, was the favourite heading into the race after narrowly missing out on victory last year.
Furuya was first out of the water after the 3.8km swim at Palm Cove, with Thompson a minute behind in fourth, but he took the lead within the first 20km of the bike leg.
He got off the bike close to seven minutes ahead of Hill and stayed strong for the win.
Slater crossed the line in 8:59:27, over eight minutes ahead of Skye Wallace with New Zealand’s Rebecca Clarke third.
“I’m pretty tired, but I don't think the adrenaline's worn off yet so I'm just so excited,” Slater said.
“I mean, I feel like this win's been a long time coming, I've had a lot of podiums, a lot of fourth places, so it means so much to win here in Cairns.
“It's kind of a home race for me, that's what it feels like anyway,” she said.
Clarke exited the water almost three minutes clear of three-time race winner Regan Hollioake, with Slater seven minutes behind.
Hollioake led the 180km bike course, transitioning more than six minutes ahead of Slater, with Clarke third.
But she tore a hamstring in the run and was forced to retire.
The 15th Ironman Cairns included more than 3000 athlete entries.
