New perk! Get after it with local recommendations just for you. Discover nearby events, routes out your door, and hidden gems when you sign up for the Local Running Drop.
Despite the fact that Ironman New Zealand was turned into a 70.3 and pushed back 24 hours, athletes made the most of the day and raced hard over the 70.3-distance. Ultimately it was Belgium’s Marino Vanhoenacker and the United States’ Meredith Kessler who turned in strong early-season fitness to take the wins.
Vanhoenacker earned the 3:55:03 win thanks in large part to his 1:12:41 half marathon. Narrowly missing out on the victory was Australia’s Tim Reed, who finished just 48 seconds of Vanhoenacker. Third place went to 10-time Ironman New Zealand winner Cameron Brown.
In the women’s race, Kessler took the win thanks to a 1:21:38 run split. Her 4:22:46 finish time was nearly eight minutes faster than that of second-place finisher Kate Bevilaqua of Australia. New Zealand’s Joanna Lawn, a seven-time winner at this race, finished third.
Ironman New Zealand (70.3)
March 4, 2012 – Taupo, New Zealand
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run
Men
1. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) 3:55:03
2. Timothy Reed (AUS) 3:55:51
3. Cameron Brown (NZL) 3:56:38
4. Romain Guillamue (FRA) 3:58:03
5. Aaron Farlow (AUS) 3:58:57
Women
1. Meredith Kessler (USA) 4:22:46
2. Kate Bevilaqua (AUS) 4:30:37
3. Joanna Lawn (NZL) 4:30:40
4. Jessica Jacobs (USA) 4:31:46
5. Gina Crawford (NZL) 4:32:45