Crowley Edges Clarke, Van Berkel Dominates at IM Australia
Sarah Crowley and Tim Van Berkel won top honors on a rainy day at Ironman Australia.
Crowley overcame a 2:06 deficit on the swim with women’s-best bike and run splits to finish in 9:06:04 with a 1:06 margin on Rebecca Clarke and 24 minutes on third place Courtney Gilfillan.
Van Berkel overcame a 5:32 swim and bike deficit to Josh Amberger with a by-far best 2:45:51 marathon to finish in 8:15:14 with an 11-minute margin on Amberger and 20:26 on 3rd place Jack Moody.
Women
In contrast to the men’s race won by a huge margin, Sarah Crowley prevailed in an all-day battle with Rebecca Clarke for the women’s crown.
Clarke led out of the water in 53:00 with a 2:06 lead on Crowley and Courtney Gilfillan, and 4:22 on Moya Johansson. After 40 kilometers of the bike, Crowley and Gilfillan caught Clarke. The trio rode together until halfway when Gilfillan fell back and trailed by 2 minutes. While that gap kept increasing, Clarke and Crowley stayed together the rest of the ride. After a women’s-fastest 4:55:16 bike split, Crowley entered T2 with a 1 second margin on Clarke (4:56:53 bike split) while Gilfillan arrived 16:11 arrears.
For the first 10km Crowley and Clarke ran together, but there after Crowley pulled away gradually but inexorably. After 20k, Crowley led by 30 seconds, and after 30k that lead increased to 1:16 while Gilfillan faded 20 minutes back.
After a women’s-best 3:11:34 marathon, Crowley finished in 9:06:04 with a 1:06 margin of victory over Clarke and 24:43 over Gilfillan.
This win adds to Crowley’s extensively excellent resume which includes 3rd places at 2019 and 2017 editions of Kona, and wins at 2019 Ironman Arizona, the 2018 Ironman South America Championship, 2018 Ironman Hamburg, 2017 Ironman Germany, 2017 Ironman Cairns, and the 2017 ITU Long Course Championship.
Men
After spending 5:5:27 through the swim and bike legs chasing Josh Amberger, Van Berkel rocketed away to a by-far fastest 2:45:51 marathon to finish in 8:15:14 with an 11-minute margin of victory.
Amberger emerged from the swim with a 4:01 lead on Van Berkel, 4:03 on Ben Philipps, 4:06 on Tim Reed, 4:09 on Joel Woolridge 4:12 on Fraser Walsh and 4:14 on Brodie Gardner.
While Amberger rode away in his own time zone, Van Berkel quickly shed Reed and Philipps and the rest of the chase group. While Van Berkel next sliced a minute off Amberger’s lead, the chasers caught up with Van Berkel while Amberger increased his lead to 6 minutes.
After a race-best 4:30:39 bike split, Amberger arrived at T2 with a 5:32 lead on Van Berkel, 8:50 on Ben Philipps, and 10:46 on Tim Reed.
On the run, Van Berkel made up his deficit by the 14-kilometer mark and seized the lead from Amberger. After his by-far best 2:45:51 run split, Van Berkel finished in 8:15:14 with an 11-minute margin on Amberger and 20:26 on third place finisher Jack Moody..
The victory added to Van Berkel’s excellent 2022 season which includes a win at Challenge Shepparton, 2nd at the Australian Long Course Championship and 5th at Geelong 70.3.
Ironman Australia
Port Macquairie, Australia
May 1, 2022
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Women's Results
1. Sarah Crowley (AUS) S 55:06 T1 2:18 B 4:55:16 T2 1:53 R 3:11:33 TOT 9:06:03
2. Rebecca Clarke (NZL) S 53:00 T1 2:49 B 4:56:53 T2 1:52 R 3:12:38 TOT 9:07:16
3. Courtney Gilfillan (AUS) S 55:06 T1 2:27 B 5:11:18 T2 2:05 R 3:19:52 TOT 9:30:47
4. Moya Johansson (AUS) S 57:22 T1 2:47 B 5:41:47 T2 1:30 R 3:16:39 TOT 10:00:03
5. Sarah Thomas (AUS) S 1:09:51 R1 2:23 B 5:40:36 T2 2:04 R 3:23:17 TOT 10:18:13
6. Shannon Sutton (AUS) S 1:05:56 T1 2:56 B 5:35:09 T2 2:22 R 3:36:38 TOT 10:23:02
Men's Results
1. Tim Van Berkel (AUS) S 52:58 T1 2:05 B 4:32:47 T2 1:35 R 2:45:51 TOT 8:15:14
2. Josh Amberger (AUS) S 48:56 T1 2:41 B 4:30:39 T2 1:45 R 3:02:14 TOT 8:26:14
3. Jack Moody (NZL) S 53:1 T1 2:28 B 4:44:29 T2 3:04 R 2:52:30 TOT 8:35:40
4. Ben Philipps (AUS) S 53:00 T1 2:16 B 4:35:52 T2 1:49 R 3:03:42 TOT 8:36:36
5. Tim Reed (AUS S 53:03 T1 2:26 B 4:37:35 T2 2:13 R 3:05:05 TOT 8:40:20
6. Fraser Walsh (AUS) S 53:09 T1 2:05 B 4:48:31 T2 2:35 R 3:00:25 TOT 8:46:44
7. Joel Woodridge (AUS) S 53:06 T1 2:20 B 4:57:47 T2 1:50 R 3:00:04 TOT 8:55:05
8. Harry Young (AUS) S 1:06:12 R1 3:40 B 4:43:03 T2 2:28 R 3:05:06 TOT 9:00:31
