Kiri finishes with signature tumble at Rotorua Half Ironman

Rotorua's Kiri Kepa celebrates crossing the finish line before taking a dramatic tumble on Saturday. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

"Falling over will now become my signature move crossing over the finishing line."

That dramatic tumble was the way local Kiri Kepa, 49, finished off her gruelling
Rotorua Half Ironman, over the quarter distance, on Saturday.

The determination athlete, who had a lumpectomy in 2013 as part of her treatment for breast cancer, took part in the triathlon event; a 1km swim, 45km bike ride and 10km run for the first time.

And after a challenging run in the final section of the race she collapsed in a heap after crossing the finishing line.

"I can certainly see why they call this the 'suffer race,' it was just a relief to finally finish," she said. "And I think falling over will now become my signature move crossing over the finishing line.

"Oh my that run was the hardest part. It's because it was such a tough bike ride so my legs really paid the price during that part of the race.

"But overall it was a great day and it was a beautiful course to compete on."

Keepa, who has been in remission for three years, finished in a time of 4h 00m 36s with split times of 23m 07s for the swim, 02h 00m 41s on the bike and 01h 36m 47s for the run leaving her 77th in the women's quarter distance field and 143rd overall.

"I'm happy with that, I was aiming for around the four hour mark," Keepa said. "I started off well in the water because I didn't get kicked or swam over. The waters parted for me and were very calm and clear to swim in.

"Then the bike was the best bit - it's my strong point. I loved the feeling of the breeze and it was a good course for me.

"It was so tough. I'll be having a big break now but I'd like to think I'd enter this again - well I've got no excuse with 12 months to train for it."

In total close to 800 participants competed over the full, quarter and team events with 50 locals involved. Vance Wilson was the top Rotorua finisher in the Half distance finishing in 5h 26m 22s (58th place overall) whilst Matt Parsonage was the first local past the post in the quarter distance finishing fourth in a time of 2h 16m 44s.

Event director Shane Hooks described the event as a "stunning success" and said the course was nicked named 'suffer' for a very good reason.

"What a stunning day, stunning competitors and a stunning event," he said. "The reason we have this is because Rotorua is such a welcoming town for triathletes.

"This event has got to be up there with the toughest triathlons in New Zealand and there's a very good reason why competitors race numbers and medals say suffer on them.

"I make no apologises for that and the athletes seem to love it too because they keep on coming back for more. Bring on and even bigger and better competition next year."