Ironman: Brown back on top

Cameron Brown clinched a record-breaking 11th Ironman New Zealand title. Photo / Getty

Cameron Brown rolled back the years to clinch a record-breaking 11th Ironman New Zealand title today and also improve his own world record to become the oldest ever winner of an ironman race.

American Meredith Kessler created her own slice of history in the women's race by racking up her fourth win and smashing her own course record in the process to become the most successful overseas women at Ironman New Zealand.

Brown, who celebrates his 43rd birthday in June, executed a typically patient display. He came out of the swim in eighth, 5mins 35s down on the leaders, and at one point early in the bike ride trailed by more than six minutes. He eventually stopped the clock in 8:22:12 to register his first Taupo success since 2011.

Perennial runner-up Terenzo Bozzone claimed his fourth second-placed finish in the race. Bozzone is a former world champion at the 70.3 distance but has so far failed to win over the full ironman distance.

"I wish the race could have been divided over two days and then I would have been a different feeling," he said. "I felt really good during the first half until about 110-120km on the bike and then the race bit me on the bum.

"You think I would have learned my lesson. It is my seventh year and I probably should have backed off a few per cent going out into the wind, which would have allowed me to use that tailwind a bit more."

A dramatic finale in the race for third saw Christchurch's Dylan McNeice recover a near two-minute deficit with only 4km remaining to overhaul Australian Alex Reithmeier and secure an all-Kiwi podium in 8:38:04.

It was a sensational triumph for Brown who nearly quit ironman two years ago after a dark period in which he became disillusioned with the demands of the sport only to once again rediscover his old magic last year.

"My first victory in 2001 was pretty cool, but when you win when you are nearly 43 it is right up there. I never thought I'd be winning this race at 42. I still love the sport. It is a tough sport and we are all in a world of pain at the moment."

Brown admitted he was concerned after he trailed the leaders by more than five minutes after the swim but had closed the gap on Bozzone by the second transition.

"I felt strong throughout the bike and managed to slowly catch up," Brown said. "The wind was getting pretty strong and I rode pretty solidly. I felt bloody good coming into town with the wind behind me and managed to catch Terenzo in the last 10km. I think I needed to as he would have felt much better with a lead going into the run."

In the women's race, Kessler led from gun to tape, stopping the clock in record time 9:05:45 to draw level on overall victories in the women's elite event with New Zealand's Erin Baker and one clear of Australian Jan Wanklyn.

Gina Crawford, the 2009 champion, claimed a third successive runner-up spot but was 20m25s adrift after struggling with a mechanical issue with her bike. Former international rower and cyclist Melanie Burke was third in 9:41:50.

"With the conditions I certainly didn't expect the record," Kessler said. "The bike was so hard because of the wind and even the run on the back half of each loop the wind was brutal. I was elated to break the record. I worked out the math and for that last kilometre I sprinted as fast as I could to try to snag it."