Legendary Kumeu triathlete Tiare Lund has added another world title to her long list at this weekend's Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Lund took out the women's 65-69 years title in the gruelling race run in sweltering conditions on Hawaii's Big Island at Kona-Kailua.
The New Zealander is a multi-world championship medallist over both the Olympic and Ironman distances, but made a return to Hawaii after injury sidelined her for much of 2009 and 2010.
The 66-year-old won her age group at Ironman New Zealand to qualify for Hawaii. She led from the start, first out of the 3.8km swim in 1:27.13, stretching that advantage with a 6:46.26 time for the 180km bike and was the only athlete in her age group to dip under five hours for the 42.2km marathon run.
Lund won in 13:25.04, to be more than 15 minutes ahead of her nearest rival.
Her performance was the highlight for the New Zealanders and of her outstanding career.
"It was a superb performance from Tiare,” said Ironman New Zealand Event Director Jane Patterson.
"Tiare has been at the forefront of the sport for so many years. When she got injured a couple of years ago most would have given up. But not Tiare. She fought back and was brilliant today to dominate her age group.
"Tiare is not just an excellent athlete. She is a wonderful person and huge contributor to our sport. No-one is more deserving of the success.”
Lund sparked an outstanding world championship for the 38 New Zealand age group competitors, with seven finishing in the top-10 as well as a silver medal to Levin's Gary Burgess in the men's 55-59 years age group, and bronze medal to Auckland's Hilary Wicks in the women's 30-34 years.
Burgess clocked a magnificent 10:15:28 in a superbly consistent day, finishing 12 minutes behind the age group winner after being third fastest in the swim and second fastest on the bike and the run.
Wicks went well under the 10 hour barrier, clocking 9:51.07, following her 1:03.13 swim with an excellent 6:17.41 ride and 3:29.05 marathon.
Tauranga's Jessica Lawson clocked 10:21.24 in the 18-24 years age group to finish fourth, only three minutes out of a medal on debut.
The standard of age group performances was staggering. None more so that the men's 30-34 years age group where Otago's Rob Creasy clocked an ultra competitive time of 9:17.48, which would have been in the top 32 in the professional race, but could do no better than 26th in his age group, which arguably had the harder of the wind conditions. The first four finishers in this age group went under the nine hour barrier, usually the domain of professionals only.
All but one of the 38 New Zealand age group competitors failed to finish in the extremely hot conditions.
In the pro field, it wasn't such a great day for Cameron Brown who was forced to withdraw on the run after badly pulling his calf muscle.
The leading female Kiwi was Samantha Warriner, who finished in 17th place in her Ironman debut in 9:43.25. Warriner had a solid swim in 58:44, worked her way into the top eight at one stage on the bike in 5:04.09 but suffered, as so many do in the heat first time at Hawaii, with a 3:31.38 marathon.
Six-time Ironman New Zealand champion Jo Lawn, who had prepared for last month's Ironman 70.3 (Half) World Championship where she was fifth, had a tough day in 19th place.
Age group results:
18-24 years:
Larisa Marsh (Auckland) 10:44.11 - 6th place in age group
Chris Sanson (Levin) 10:20.12 - 21st
25-29:
Jessica Lawson (Tauranga) 10:21.24 - 4th
Simon Cochrane (Auckland) 9:18:36 - 12th
Hilary Mathis (Canada) 11:08.18 - 25th
Scott McNabb (Christchurch) 9:39.51 - 47th
Chris Quirk (Australia) 11:45.32 - 84th
30-34:
Hilary Wicks (Auckland) 9:51.07 - 3rd
Rob Creasy (Otago) 9:17.48 - 26th
Elizabeth Goer (Auckland) 11:00.18 - 44th
Cameron Durno (Taupo) 10:43.15 - 119th
Ashley Honey (USA) 10:55.33 - 124th
Dane Cantwell (Hong Kong) 11:13.56 - 136th
35-39:
Margo Southgate (Wellington) 11:46.5 - 56th
Jon Woods (Tasmania) 9:41.28 - 65th
Deano Gaskin (Wellington) 9:45.44 - 77th
James Schnauer (Los Angeles) 10:08.33 - 123rd
Richard Nauck (Auckland) 12:34.39 - 206th
40-44:
Lee Moreton 9:39.36, 29;
Theresa Bidwell (Auckland) 11:07.31 - 30th
Francis Evett (Wellington) 9:53.31 - 61st
Scott Richdale (Auckland)9:55.12 - 68th
Jared Preston (USA) 9:58.13 - 78th
Kelly Edwards (Auckland) 13:11.30 - 79th
Anthony Fesche (Hong Kong) 10:44.03 - 171st
Craig Martyn (USA) 13:27.09 - 236th
45-49:
Sue McMaster (Palmerston North) 11:34.20 - 8th
Philip Morreau (Auckland) 10:04.02 - 11th
Marilyn Morrison (Martinborough) 12:52.14 - 26th
Glenn Wright (Auckland) 10:33.48 - 87th
Peter O'Brien (Christchurch) 13:04.21 - 176th
50-54:
Ross Lockey (Coatesville) 11:08.36 - 73rd
55-59:
Gary Burgess (Levin) 10:15.28 - 2nd
60-64:
Kevin Lowe (Australia) 11:38.44 - 10th
Robert Allemann (New Plymouth) 11:57.53 - 18th
65-69:
Tiare Lund (Kumeu) 13:25.04 - 1st
Peter Taylor (Taupo) 16:12.32 - 26th
75-79:
Garth Barfoot (North Harbour) DNF
Results, elite men:
1. Craig Alexander (AUS) 8:03.56 (race record)
2. Pete Jacobs (AUS) 8:09.11
3. Andreas Raelert (GER) 8:11.07
4. Dirk Bockel (LUX) 8:12.58
5. Timo Bracht (GER) 8:20.12
Plus Kiwis;
Cameron Brown (NZL) DNF
Results, elite women:
1. Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 8:55.08
2. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 8:57.57
3. Leanda Cave (GBR) 9:03.29
4. Rachel Joyce (GBR) 9:06.57
5. Caroline Steffen (SUI) 9:07.32
Plus Kiwis;
17. Samantha Warriner 9:43.25
19. Jo Lawn 9:56.15
