Johnsen and Keat take out Shepparton
Jimmy Johnsen and Rebekah Keat take out the 2009 Campbell’s Shepparton Half Ironman. Keat broke the race record, set by Kat Baker in 2008, to score herself a cash bonus of $1,000.
Doubling as Round 6 of the Australian Half Ironman Series, today’s event attracted over 650 triathletes from around Australia. Comprising a 1.9km swim, 90.1km bike and 21.1km run, they were truly put to the test as the temperature gradually increased to a testing 36 degrees.
With the water temperature measured at 26 degrees this morning, the Race Director announced that it was to be a non-wetsuit swim.
In the men’s race, Jemani Francis, Matt Bailey, Michael Cupitt and Jimmy Johnsen exited the water in a tight group. They were followed about 20 seconds later by 2007 champion Tim Berkel and Matty White, with Jason Shortis some five minutes behind.
In T1, Johnsen had trouble removing his speedsuit, and he was the last of the swim leaders to head out on to the three-lap bike course. However, as soon as he started pedaling, it was clear that Johnsen was a man on a mission. By the 30km mark, he and Cupitt had established a 90 second buffer to Matt Bailey, with the chase group a further 80 seconds behind.
Meanwhile in the women’s race, Keat, Lisa Marangon and Charlotte McShane emerged from the swim leg together, with Charlotte Paul almost three minutes behind. Marangon immediately set to work establishing a lead on the bike, using the same tactics she employed two weeks ago when she rode solo to win the Port Macquarie Half Ironman.
Unfortunately, defending women’s champion Kat Baker was forced to withdraw at the 30km mark due to severe cramping. A disappointed Baker later said she remains on track for her second tilt at Ironman Western Australia next month.
By the 60km mark, Johnsen and Cupitt had extended their lead to almost four minutes, while the chase group had caught a tiring Bailey. The two leaders entered T2 side-by-side, however it was Johnsen who had a scintillating transition to head out on to the bike course almost a minute ahead.
Five minutes later, the chase group arrived, including Berkel, White, Francis, Bailey, Nathan Stewart and newcomer Ollie Whistler.
Meanwhile, Marangon completed the 90km bike course in a scorching 2:24:34, giving herself a lead of almost four minutes over Keat and McShane.
Things really got interesting out on the three-lap 21.1km run course. In the men’s race, a flying Berkel set out to chase down Johnsen, while Keat gradually set about to reduce Marangon’s seemingly insurmountable lead. By the end of the first lap (7km), she had already made up 2.5 minutes, and speculation started mounting about course records.
Unfortunately for Berkel, he wasn’t quite able to make up the time gap in spite of an incredible 1:14:08 run, and it was a jubilant Jimmy Johnsen who proudly walked the final few metres of the finish chute to claim victory. Richard Thompson crossed the line for third, just ahead of Matty White who was having his first hit-out since racing in Hawaii last month.
While very pleased to have his break-through win in the series, Johnsen was concerned about problems with his achilles, and the effect today’s performance may have had on his legs. With Ironman WA just three weeks away, he doesn’t have a lot of time to recover. “My race plan today was to go hard on the swim and bike, and hopefully not run too hard. But once I was in the lead, my plan about running easy didn’t eventuate!”
Berkel said that he had felt okay in the swim, then struggled on the bike, but it all came together on the run. When asked how he’s feeling as he prepares to defend his Ironman WA title, he said “I’m happy with where things are – I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll be giving it a good crack this year. Full credit to Jimmy for going off the front – he is absolutely flying, he’s in good shape.”
In the women’s race, Keat had a sensational run in the hot conditions, out-running Marangon by almost nine minutes.
Keat was thrilled to not only win, but also collect the $1,000 bonus for breaking the course record. She declared at the finish line that she believes she can go eight minutes quicker on the flat Shepparton course, and that the world record for the half ironman distance is a real possibility. “Today was definitely some redemption for what happened in Kona (where she was disqualified after finishing fifth)”, she said. Her mission for redemption will continue when she returns to Busselton in three weeks.
Race Director Peter Guy said, “We’re ecstatic with the quality field at today’s race, and absolutely rapt with the number of entrants. It means that we’re doing something right, and the trend is that we’re getting repeat business as well as newcomers to Shepparton.
“We’re exceptionally pleased with the way the competitors handled the challenging conditions, particularly with the non-wetsuit swim declared.
“The pro’s had a fantastic race, both males and females, and the feedback we have received has been enormously positive, with Rebekah Keat announcing that she’ll be back next year with a view to smashing the world record for the half distance”.
Earlier in the day, another 200 triathletes took on the challenge of the “Hexman”, a shorter triathlon (633m swim, 30km ride and 7km run), which was also held this morning. The Hexman was won by Peter Kerr and Nadelle Legge.
The Shepparton Half Ironman is proudly presented by the Shepparton Triathlon Club, and is organised by a voluntary group of local Shepparton people who have a passion for triathlon and are all actively involved in the sport at every opportunity.
RESULTS – MALE & FEMALE OPEN
Position Overall Swim Bike Run
- Jimmy Johnsen (Den) 3:51:46 24:47 2:08:34 1:18:24
- Tim Berkel 3:52:29 25:06 2:13:14 1:14:08
- Richard Thompson 3:56:17 26:11 2:12:11 1:17:54
- Matty White 3:57:08 25:08 2:13:10 1:18:48
- Paul Attard 3:58:36 26:36 2:13:45 1:18:14
Women
- Rebekah Keat 4:19:36 26:10 2:28:18 1:25:07
- Lisa Marangon 4:24:06 26:09 2:24:34 1:33:23
- Charlotte McShane 4:24:34 26:07 2:28:27 1:29:59
- Charlotte Paul 4:29:41 29:04 2:31:37 1:29:00
- Julia Grant (NZ) 4:31:35 28:44 2:30:59 1:31:51