Jo Lawn sets new Ironman New Zealand record

Aucklander Jo Lawn was a woman on a mission as she won the New Zealand Ironman title in Taupo today by nearly 15 minutes in a new race record.

Gunning for her seventh win on end last year, Lawn fell short as Cantabrian Gina Cawford picked up her first Taupo title.

Today, despite a year spent battling injury and illness, Lawn powered through for a nine hours 14 minutes 35 seconds win, leaving Crawford a distant second in 9hr 28min 26sec. Third place went to American Kim Loeffler with 9hr 30min 57sec.

Lawn's win, with much of the cycle and run in increasingly blustery conditions, lowered her own race record set two years ago by nearly 1min 30sec.

Since last March, Lawn has overcome chronic fatigue related to nutritional issues and on-going problems stemming from her jaw which affected her position on the bike

Second behind Cambridge's Melissa Holt after the 190km cycle, Lawn churned out a hugely-impressive marathon, clocking 3hr 06min 23sec and running herself to a standstill in the process.

"Today was hard, the bike was pretty rough. It was really windy, and there weren't many people. No-one, really - it was pretty much a solo ride," she said.

"I never thought I'd get close to the record, because last time I was pushed. But you just have to dig deep and you can break records."

Crawford hadn't had the best of years either since last year's Taupo triumph as a combination of health issues and injury problems proved difficult to shake off.

The genetic heart abnormality discovered last year proved manageable, the ankle injury has disappeared, and Crawford looked in impressive form coming out of the water fourth overall - behind leading men Kieran Doe, Terenzo Bozzone and Cameron Brown.

She clocked 50min 02sec for the 3.8km swim, making the most of a mirror-still Lake Taupo to lead Lawn by 44sec going into the first transition.

Holt completed the swim as the fifth-fastest woman, clocking 54min 49sec before heading out on her favoured 190km cycle leg but with a power of work to get through as she trailed Crawford and Lawn by well over a minute and a half.

The three-times national time trial champion exercised commendable restraint in pacing herself over the two-lap course, Crawford and Lawn at one stage opening up a 4min 25sec lead before Holt's patience paid dividends.

By 100km, the three women were as close together as the anti-drafting rule allowed, and Holt was poised to steal the lead. But although she hit the front and eased out by 1min 15sec with 30km remaining, Lawn meticulously kept within range and started the final run just 15sec down.

Crawford, who faded over the final quarter of the cycle, was three minutes further back but although she looked more impressive the further she progressed in the marathon, could find no match to the focus and determination of Lawn.

- NZPA