Gambles and Lawn take Port Macquarie’s half
Athletes chasing Ironman Hawaii qualification points—most of them Australians—had to think strategically this weekend. Race the Port Macquarrie 70.3 and recover quickly, or go for the gusto at the longer race. Many chose the half-distance, no doubt in some part due to the difficulty in earning sufficient points at the full distance race.
Consequently, the 70.3 boasted a field almost as good as did the full. Joe Gambles hammered the bike and never looked back, holding off a closing Tim Berkel to take the win. Ageless Kiwi Cam Brown came home third.
There must be something in the water in New Zealand. Following 39-year-old Cameron Brown's 3rd place in the men's race—with fastest run of the day… again—Jo Lawn, only a year younger, took the women's crown.
Lawn pummeled the ladies in all three legs, posting the fastest swim, bike and run splits. Aussie Madeleine Oldfield had a balanced race to finish second, near enough to taste the lead all day long but never close enough to get it.
Urban Hotel Group Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
May 1, 2011
1.2mi swim / 56mi bike / 13.1mi run
Men
1. Joe Gambles (AUS): 3:58:15
2. Tim Berkel (AUS): 4:01:40
3. Cameron Brown (NZL): 4:03:22
4. Christian Kemp (AUS): 4:04:11
5. Tim Reed (AUS): 4:04:54
6. Joseph Lampe (AUS): 4:08:59
7. Bryan Rhodes (NZL): 4:13:412
8. Leon Griffin (AUS): 4:16:01
9. Matthew White (AUS): 4:16:01
10. Jemani Francis (AUS): 4:19:02
Women
1. Joanna Lawn (NZL) 4:29:36
2. Madeleine Oldfield (AUS) 4:37:24
3. Michelle Wu (AUS) 4:41:10
4. Belinda Granger (AUS) 4:43:53
5. Elly Franks (AUS) 5:00:31
Image of Joe Gambles courtesy of Shawn Smith of Melbourne Photographer, Blinq Photography
