Multisports: Brown makes it five in a row

The Cameron Brown Ironman show rolled back in to the lakeside town yesterday, bigger and better than ever.

Winning for the fifth straight and in record time, Brown exorcised any demons left hanging around after the disappointments in Hawaii last year and in dipping out in the Tauranga Half Ironman in January.

In winning five back-to-back, Brown matched a record boasted only by Ironman great Mark Allen, who won five in Hawaii from 1989-93.

The new-look Brown, faster in the swim, dominant on the bike and untested on the run, cleared out to win as he liked by a massive 19m 37s from NZ-based Canadian Gordo Byrn with Taupo hero Bryan Rhodes grabbing a surprise third.

Organisers of the Bonita-sponsored event were claiming it as another famous first with New Zealanders grabbing all podium spots, pointing out Byrn has lived here for five years and entered as a Kiwi.

Jo Lawn completed the record-breaking day with her three-peat in the womens' race beating pace-setting American Monica Caplan by an equally-impressive 15m 53s. Hong Kong-based Claire Murray, 16th woman out of the water, stormed home for third.

Unbeknown to the huge crowd, who thronged the transition areas, streets and the finish area in beautiful sunshine, the 1150 competitors had been challenged by a raft of weather conditions.

The swim, in water temperatures five degrees warmer than last year and with little or no chop, was followed by a 180km cycle in conditions varying from around a chilly, and foggy, 7-8 degrees in the forest to a something much hotter in the midday sun.

For those who finished mid-afternoon, the temperature was a challenging 25-26 degrees.

The conditions took their toll. None found it more difficult than young dreadlocked Aucklander Kieran Doe.

Sixth out of the water, 1m 15s behind perennial swim winner Brent Foster whose 45m 03s was just 16s outside the record he set a year ago, Doe stormed to the lead on the cycle to lead Brown out on to the run by half a minute.

That effort obviously told as Doe faded with a 3h 16m run - the second slowest run time among the top 10 finishers. More than an hour after he had finished some 27min after Brown, Doe was still in the medical centre.

It was Brown's day.

"I had a great day," he told the huge finish-line crowd. "It started with a great swim and just kept going. It was great to come off the bike only 30s down - much better than the 18 minutes last year."

In front inside 5km of the 42km run, Brown simply ran away.

Admitting it was mentally easier by being with the leading bunch on the bike, Brown settled into his work and calculated he needed a 2h 48 run to claim the record he set two years ago.

"I think I have got a long career ahead of me. I have been doing it [triathlon] for 17 years. Ironman is all about challenging your mind as well as your body," said Brown. "I'll keep coming back."

But there remains Hawaii. Unfinished business.

"I really want to win Germany and Hawaii. You are the man if you win in Hawaii."

Lawn has the same aspirations. Reflecting on her win around 13 minutes outside her 2003 record Lawn, third woman out of the water but out in front for the last 45km of the cycle and throughout the run, said it was hard going.

"In the end, my mind was overtaking my body. That's why I got to the finish line," said Lawn. "It was a really, really hard day. I did not panic about Monica getting so far ahead but even so I never, ever, felt I had it in the bag."

Lawn now heads into uncharted waters, even if she said it was the last thing she wanted to think about after posting her record third straight win.

Lawn is planning to compete for Ironman Australia in five weeks.

Enjoying the biggest lead she has ever had in an ironman - on the back of her record-breaking swim in which she smashed exactly three minutes from Andrea Fishers 2003 record - Caplan tried to hold on but not even a personal best finishing time (of 9h 46m 07s) could challenge Lawn.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY