Posted: May 10, 2005

Triathlon: Jacobs and Granger win in Busselton

The Ironman Australia Qualifying Series began for the 2005/06 season in Busselton, WA with a record field of over 600 athletes starting the Busselton Half Ironman.

The Half Ironman took place in the seaside resort of Busselton, the home of Ironman Western Australia which will be held on November 27, 2005. The Half Ironman event was offering 50 qualifying spots for the 2006 Ironman Australia race, which will be held for the first time in Port Macquarie on April 2, 2006.

With the late withdrawal of Jason Shortis due to a stomach illness the elite men’s race saw Pete Jacobs enter the event as race favourite. The added pressure that comes with favouritism didn’t seem to bother Jacobs as he took an early lead in the swim. Exiting the water with Jacobs was NSW’s athlete Matt Clarke but it would take Jacobs just 25km to re-gain the lead and he was never challenged again.

Recording the second-fastest bike time of the day, Jacobs entered transition with a comfortable lead over his rivals which included Albury’s Tim Berkel, Justin Granger and local athlete Steve Bishop. Once onto the run it was Granger and Berkel who fought out the minor placings as Jacobs raced away, recording the second-fastest run of the day and victory in the Busselton Half Ironman. Granger was second with Berkel placing third.

“I felt good in the swim but it took me a while on the bike before my legs came around but once they did, I began to push hard and felt great. I am still not 100 percent yet but I now know I am not far off,” said Jacobs after the race.

In the women’s race Belinda Granger completely dominated the field. Exiting the water in the lead, Granger’s bike strength saw her enter the run with an insurmountable lead and in ninth place amongst the men. With her improved run leg Granger recorded the second-fastest run of the day to take victory by 10 minutes.

Granger is currently training for the Roth Challenge in Germany and used the race as a hit out for that event.

“ I felt really strong today and was pleased with the way I have recovered since Ironman Australia. I am looking forward to the race in Roth and today it was great to see Justin have a good race also,” said Granger after the event. After Roth, Granger will travel to San Diego to train for the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

Placing second at the Busselton Half Ironman was local hero Angela Milne who had a solid race, finishing three minutes ahead of Canberra’s Kirra Rankin. Young Western Australian Lauren Jones has continued her improvement, finishing fourth ahead of Tasmania Amelia Cox.

The Ironman Australia Qualifying Series is now off to the Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman in Yeppoon on August 14, 2005. Over 5000 athletes are expected to compete in the series as they attempt to qualify for Ironman Australia, held in Port Macquarie on April 2, 2006.

Results:
Men Surname First Swim Bike Run Total
1 Jacobs Pete 24:32 2:21:30 1:18:03 4:04:05
2 Granger Justin 27:33 2:28:12 1:20:22 4:16:07
3 Berkel Tim 26:45 2:27:34 1:22:07 4:16:26
4 Bishop Steven 25:28 2:25:28 1:28:46 4:19:42
5 Sammut Ron 29:53 2:29:14 1:20:42 4:19:49

Women Surname First Swim Bike Run Total
1 Granger Belinda 27:30 2:28:52 1:29:44 4:26:06
2 Milne Angela 28:42 2:35:47 1:32:28 4:36:57
3 Rankin Kirra 32:21 2:41:59 1:25:02 4:39:22
4 Jones Lauren 30:52 2:46:40 1:25:23 4:42:55
5 Cox Amelia 27:35 2:46:11 1:32:17 4:46:03