Posted: October 14, 2007

Triathlon: Chris McCormack and Chrissie Wellington Claim Victory at the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship

October 13, 2007 (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii) – Today, Chris McCormack and Chrissie Wellington claimed victory at the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship. McCormack, who placed second at last year’s event behind two-time World Champion Normann Stadler, crossed the finish line with a time of 8:15:34. Chrissie Wellington, fresh off her victory at August’s Standard Chartered Bank Ironman Korea, became the first British athlete to claim an Ironman World Championship title today, with a time of 9:08:45. Securing his first World Championship title, Australia’s McCormack took the lead from Chris Lieto, last year’s top American finisher, approximately 13 miles into the marathon run. McCormack led an impressive men’s field comprised of athletes such as Craig Alexander, Tim DeBoom, Torbjorn Sindballe and Marino Vanhoenacker, becoming the first male athlete from Australia to earn a title in Kona since 1994. Battling the heat, Wellington dominated during the bike and held onto it throughout the run, leading a determined women’s field that included Samantha McGlone, Kate Major, Joanna Lawn, Dede Griesbauer and Leanda Cave. The event saw 1,787 athletes officially start the race and attempt to conquer a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run through the lava fields of Kailua-Kona, HI. While weather conditions were nearly ideal, many of the professional athletes dropped out of today’s event. Those include six-time World Champion, Natascha Badmann; last year’s female winner, Michellie Jones; two-time World Champion, Normann Stadler and 2005 World Champion, Faris Al-Sultan. Competitors, ranging in age from 18 years old to 78 years old, included several inspirational age group athletes to include: a.. Charles Plaskon, a 64-year-old visually impaired athlete who participated today with his guide, Matt Miller from the C Different Foundation, crossed the line in 14 hours, 49 seconds. b.. Scott Rigsby, a double below-the-knee amputee athlete from Atlanta, GA celebrated his finish in 16 hours and 42 minutes. c.. Brian Boyle, survivor of a nearly fatal car accident where he was told he would never walk again, crossed the line at 14 hours, 42 seconds. The Emmy Award winning Ford Ironman World Championship broadcast will air on December 1, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST on NBC. Please check your local listings for specific details. For complete race day coverage and results from the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship, visit Ironman.com. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest