Posted: August 29, 2004

Triathlon: Bells & Cooksley Claim Victory At Cairns Half Ironman

Round Four - Road to Ironman Australia Qualifying Series - Cairns Half Ironman Triathlon, Cairns, Far North Queensland, Sunday August 29th, 2004

The “Road to Ironman Australia” qualifying series continued onto Round Four this Sunday August 29th, for the Cairns Half Ironman Triathlon in Cairns, QLD. With 35 qualifying slots for the Snap Ironman Australia triathlon up for grabs it was an opportunity for aspiring Ironman athletes to secure a position at the 2005 Ironman Australia in Forster on April 3rd. It was also an awesome hit-out for Hawaii Ironman competitors with the lead up to the big one in Kona only seven weeks away.

Greeted by a perfect day for racing, 202 individual athletes and 15 teams took to the start-line for the race which would be run over half the Ironman distance, consisting of a 1.9km swim, 90km ride and to finish a 21.1km run. This was the eighth running of the Cairns Half Ironman and the location offers a unique opportunity to combine triathlon with a resort holiday. The course is new for 2004 and continues to be undulating and picturesque whilst offering athletes a fantastic opportunity to set new records.

The swim leg was led out by Victorian athlete Luke Bell alongside Shane Gibbs with four-time Ironman New Zealand champion, Cam Brown amongst a pack of young up and coming pro athletes one minute back. Dean King was a further one and a half minutes behind Brown and was going to have to put in a great ride in order to move up the field.

The women’s event was set to be a hot race between Cairns own Caroline Cooksley and Shepparton Half Ironman winner, Victorian, Kim Wilson. Three-time Cairns Half Ironman winner Rebekah Keat was a late withdrawal. As expected Wilson had a blistering swim to exit with Brisbane athlete Leesa White, with Cooksley heading into transition some four minutes back. Wilson, who is considered one of Australia’s best over the Half Ironman exited transition in the lead and wasn’t planning on seeing anyone else for the rest of the day.

Bell continued to dominate on the bike whilst putting extra time between him and the pack chasing hard behind. By the 90km mark Bell dismounted after a 2:16:00 cycle with a two and a half minute lead from Brown, who rode a 2:18:30. King had a solid ride of 2:20:53, but was going to have to have the run of his life to catch Brown.

Cooksley turned up the heat just as the weather had, and was now riding through the field and had her sights on first place. At 90km cycle, Cooksley had rode through the field into first with Lisa Marangon in second. Wilson was now in third place, and had some work to do on the run if she was to take the title. As they traded bike helmets for running shoes the race was on!

Bell was relaxed and enjoying the race and it confirmed to him he was on target for destiny in Kona in 7 weeks time. Brown proved once again what a strong runner he is running a 1:19:01, yet the championship was never really challenged and Bell went on to win his second Cairns Half Ironman in 3:57:25. Second across the line was Cam Brown in 4:00:00, followed by Dean King some four minutes back in 4:04:32.

Carolyn Cooksley had a sensational run, 1:26:51 to take home victory by more than 20 minutes to her closest competitor in a time of 4:21:22. Wilson ran hard to make up for her cycle and finished in second place, 4:41:29. Third to cross the line was Lisa Marangon in 4:43:40.

The perfect day of racing belonged to Luke Bell and Carolyn Cooksley who both dominated the event but for many the prize of a qualifying spot to the biggest triathlon event in Australia was just as important. With 35 spots up for grabs the age-group athletes were just as determined to gain their place on the start line of the 2005 Snap Ironman Australia triathlon.

Results:
Men: Luke Bell: 3:57:25, swim: 21:44, bike: 2:16:11, run: 1:19:30 Cameron Brown: 4:00:00, swim: 22:09, bike: 2:18:50, run: 1:19:01 Dean King: 4:04:32, swim: 23:41, bike: 2:20:53, run: 1:19:58

Women:
Carolyn Cooksley: 4:21:22, swim: 28:12, bike: 2:26:19, run: 1:26:51 Kim Wilson : 4:41:29, swim: 24:33, bike: 2:39:55, run: 1:37:01 Lisa Marangon: 4:43:40, swim: 24:44, bike: 2:29:53, run: 1:49:03

For more information on the City of Cairns Half Ironman Triathlon contact: Scott Penny on 0412 963 263 or email info@ironmantri.com.au.

For more information on the Road to Ironman Australia Qualifying Series contact: Samantha Cairncross on 0413 706 425

For more information on the Cairns Half Ironman Triathlon contact: Scott Penny at 0412 963 263 or email vark@ozemail.com.au.