Australian Half Ironman Series

Busselton Half Ironman Triathlon
May 3, 2008

The home of Ironman Western Australia, Busselton, was buzzing yesterday as Pete Jacobs claimed his fourth Busselton Half Ironman title in a stunning display. Joining him on the winner’s dais was 2007 Ironman Australia champion Rebekah Keat.
 
Leading from start to finish, Jacobs set a blistering pace in the swim exiting almost 2 minutes ahead of his nearest rivals, Western Australia’s Sean O’Neill and Josh Rix from Victoria.  Peter Loveridge exited the water in third place but once out onto the bike course, Jacobs quickly stamped his authority.
 
The bike course at the Busselton Half Ironman has been changed to mimic the Ironman route, allowing athletes an opportunity to experience the course and this paid dividends for Jacobs. As he had done in the December Ironman event, he led from the swim and built an unassailable lead on the bike. Only Victoria’s Mitch Anderson, fresh from a second placing at April’s Ironman Australia, rode faster than Jacobs.
 
Although Loveridge easily had the fastest half marathon time of the day it wasn’t enough to stop Jacobs who crossed the line in 3:50:01. Loveridge was 2:33 behind followed by Anderson who rounded out the podium positions.
 
Queensland’s Rebekah Keat again showed her dominance of the Half Ironman distance in Australia. Recovering from a leg injury that forced her withdrawal from Ironman Australia, Keat produced an excellent performance to hold off Claire Goldsmith and reigning Ironman Western Australia champion Charlotte Paul.
 
Belinda Brooks led the field from the water onto the bike leg but it took Keat just a few kilometres to find her rhythm on the bike and she built a lead of over 3 minutes heading into the last transition. With limited run training under her belt, Keat still maintained her healthy lead finishing 2:36 ahead of Goldsmith and over 10 minutes ahead of Paul.
 
936 athletes from around Australia competed in the first race of the Australian Half Ironman series. Every athlete who completed the Half Ironman distance is now eligible to enter the 2009 Ironman Australia. Entries for Ironman Australia open in June and there are six Ironman Australia validating races including the Busselton Half Ironman, Capricorn Half Ironman, Gold Coast Half Ironman, Port Macquarie Half Ironman, Shepparton Half Ironman, Canberra Half Ironman and the final of the series, the Geelong Ironman 70.3.
 
For more information on the Australian Half Ironman Series contact:
Shane Smith at shane@sport3.com.au or Ken Baggs at kenbaggs@ironmanoz.com 
 
Busselton Half Ironman Triathlon
May 3, 2008
Men’s results:

  1   JACOBS, Pete   3:50:01   0:22:50   2:07:55   1:17:05   
  2   LOVERIDGE, Peter   3:52:34   0:24:44   2:11:05   1:14:30   
  3   ANDERSON, Mitchell   3:56:08   0:25:20   2:06:52   1:21:19   
  4   O'NEILL, Sean   4:00:18   0:24:32   2:11:24   1:22:13   
  5   RIX, Josh   4:00:58   0:24:33   2:08:37   1:25:23  
 
Women’s results:

  1   KEAT, Rebekah   4:14:17   0:26:01   2:23:08   1:22:32   
  2   GOLDSMITH, Claire   4:16:43   0:26:35   2:26:32   1:20:56   
  3   PAUL, Charlotte   4:24:42   0:28:14   2:28:27      
  4   JARRETT, Kelly   4:27:19   0:32:57   2:23:57   1:27:11   
  5   WARD, Nicole   4:30:15   0:26:38   2:31:39   1:29:05