Posted: January 29, 2004

Triathlon: Glah, Wanklyn return for 20th anniversary of Ironman NZ

Triathlon's most enduring and endearing couple are returning to their happiest of hunting grounds for the 20th anniversary Ironman New Zealand race in Taupo in March.

American Ken Glah and Australian wife Jan Wanklyn, with more than 60 Ironman finishes between them over two decades, have chalked up 11 wins and 27 podium placings in their illustrious careers.

The pair will join close friends Scott Molina and Erin Baker at the anniversary of the world's oldest international Ironman in Taupo on Saturday 6 march. American Molina, the inaugural Ironman New Zealand winner in 1985 and world champion in 1988, will race in Taupo while wife Baker, the four-time winner and two-time world Ironman champion, will be the special guest of honour.

Glah and Wanklyn are keen to return to the race that kick-started their careers, and to a country that has been special in their lives. Both gained their first Ironman wins in Auckland, the venue of the race before it was moved to Taupo in 1999.

They have won the event five times between them, Glah becoming the first person to win back-to-back over the full Ironman distance in 1992 and 1993. He was involved in two of the most controversial moments, finishing second by 0.1sec to Pauli Kiuru in 1990 and winning in 1993 after being sent the wrong way on the bike.

Wanklyn gained her first Ironman victory in Auckland in 1991 and came back after the birth of her daughter Reanin to win back-to-back in 1996 and 1997. While she never won at top level again, Wanklyn never finished further back than fifth in Ironman races around the globe.

"New Zealand is very special to us and will always hold a special place in our lives,'' Wanklyn said.

"It's a place we always enjoy going. It's finny because we are more recognised there than in our hometown in the United States. We've always found the people really wonderful.''

Wanklyn has close ties with New Zealand, with her mother and family living in Taranaki, which became the regular summer training base for Glah and Wanklyn for nearly a decade as they escaped the harsh winter climes of home in Pennsylvania.

While both are in the twilight of their careers, neither could be counted out in Taupo this year. Glah recently completed his 20th finish at the Ironman triathlon world championships in Hawaii. He has recorded five major Ironman wins in New Zealand (1992, 1993), Canada (1993) and Brazil (1998, 1999).

"I've never had any serious overuse injury throughout my career, which has been a blessing,'' Glah said.

"I put that down to the fact that I've had a lot of body work done over the years and I have always taken a lot of time off.''

He is regarded as a strong all-round triathlete, while wife Wanklyn gained her wins coming from behind on the run.

"I've always believed that what you do on the bike will set you up and the race is always decided on the marathon run,'' Wanklyn said.

Her biggest challenge came in her last win in New Zealand in 1997, where she overcame an 11minute 30second deficit to American Lauren Alexander off the bike.

Both are likely to be contenders despite their senior status in the 20th anniversary race.

The men's field will be announced tomorrow and the women's field next week.

The race website is at: www.ironman.co.nz.