Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi! Oi! Oi!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi! Oi! Oi!

Nick Munting enjoys a rare Australian double as Jason Shortis and Sarah Fien bring it home for the green and gold in Japan!

The run home in Ironman Japan takes competitors down Samurai Street. For those who conquered the 2005 Ironman Japan, the Samurai legend lived strong -- like ancient warriors they triumphed over nature, the course, and each other in a tough day at the office.

 

For 35-year-old Jason Shortis, each Ironman victory is special. He's won in the USA (Florida) at home (Western Australia) and now adds a title in Asia, taking the firth annual Ironman Japan in 8:41:17, and establishing a new course record on the way. But it wasn't easy.

 

The lanky Aussie battled defending champion and veteran 42-year-old Peter Kropko from the swim to mid-marathon, before finally breaking away for his third Ironman victory. Kropko, laid low by flu most of the week, had no excuses, knowing in his heart he had made the best race he could! Both of these guys are amongst the best 'gentlemen' in the sport!

 

Shortis had a disappointing swim - he emerged nearly two-minutes down on powerhouse Kropko, but he caught the Hungarian in the bike, riding 4:55:44 to Kropko's 4:57:53. The two emerged from the transition and continued their battle on the run together.

 

Then, in a dramatic moment he'd rather have avoided, Shortis turned the wrong way shortly after establishing a small break on Kropko.

 

"I went the wrong way and lost maybe a minute!" he told Ironmanlive.

 

The following split told the story, the Aussie was suddenly down by over 30-seconds on the flying Kropko!

 

But Shortis kept his cool, and changed up a gear, peeling off a 2:49:54 marathon (just three minutes shy of his PB!) to Kropko's 3:00:16. The surge that provided that gap was his winning margin!

 

Behind the two duelling Samurai triathletes, the best of Japan staged their own dual, for once not looking in on potential victory. The race had brought Hideya Miyazuki out of retirement, Shingo Tani back to Ironman Japan after a nine year break, and two-time champ, Yoshinori Tamura also looked awesome. The race also featured some new faces.

 

On paper, at least, we were seemingly assured of a potential Japanese victory, but nature conspired to rob the Japanese of one element in which they shine. Rather than hot, humid, conditions, we had a cool, and at least in much of the bike, very wet day! The combination certainly put paid to Tamura, and saw the "cool weather" athletes emerge strong.

 

In the final analysis it was 27-year-old Hayato Kawahara, second here last year, who bested his Japanese rivals to take third in 8:57:38, followed in by two-time Olympian, Hiroyuki Nishiuchi in 9:03:48.

 

The Japanese contingent was again broken up by Korean, Byung Hoon Park, who stormed home fifth in 9:04:28 from Strongman winner, Matsumaru Masayuki and veteran, Shingo Tani.

 

The absolutely incredible 41-year-old Hideya Miyazuka was eighth in 9:20:01, 49-seconds behind the first age grouper, 33-year-old Thomas Vonach of Austria, leaving Kazuo Sudo of Japan to fill the top ten with a 9:26:55 finish.

 

The women's race resembled a game of chess as competitors constantly changed position throughout the race...

 

Australia's 37-year-old Sarah Fien played the board the best, going 9:51:56 with a 1:00:08 swim, an ever so strong 5:28:11 ride, and a solid 3:23:37 run to post victory over another Strongman winner, 21-year-old Naomi Imaizumi who, after facing a five minute penalty, was still only three minutes behind Fien at the start of the run.

 

But as the other women dropped further back, Sarah surged ahead.

 

"I never had a split all day, and I really didn't know where the other women were - so I just kept going!" she told Ironmanlive. In fact she was unchallenged in the run, the win marking her return from a season in which things haven't gone her way!

 

Defending champion, Yoko Hori, had a solid race to finish in third place, while Emi Shiono also posted a solid race to move into the top five ahead of 42-year-old Susan Peter, who, like Peter Kropko, is proving that age is no barrier on this course!

 

Belinda Halloran, who led the race into the bike leg and then faded, dug deep to place sixth, from Hiromi Sato and Sachiko Itou, the first female age grouper home in eigth.

 

Akiko Watanabe ran the fastest female marathon at 3:16: 04 to finish ninth, while tenth was shared as Aussie Nikki Egyed and Germany's Heidi Jesberger ran in together, neither having the day they wanted. Egyed had been as high as fourth until her race came apart at the 31-kilometer mark of the marathon.

 

For complete race coverage, click on the post-race coverage banner on the top of the page.

 

Men:

1          Jason Shortis               8:41:17
2          Peter Kropko                8:51:52
3          Hayato Kawahara          8:57:38
4          Hiroyuki Nishiuchi         9:03:48
5          Byung Hoon Park          9:04:28

 

Women

1          Sarah Fien                    9:51:56
2          Naomi Imaizumi            10:07:13
3          Yoko Hori                     10:13:25
4          Emi Shiono                   10:17:53
5          Susan Peter                  10:20:37