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TIM BERKEL AND LISA MARANGON TAKE OUT THE 2009 SCODY HALF IRONMAN TRIATHLON, PORT MACQUARIE

Tim Berkel and Lisa Marangon had their break-through wins at this morning’s Scody Half Ironman triathlon, which was held in Berkel’s home-town of Port Macquarie, New South Wales. For both athletes, today’s victory followed several years of near misses and frustration at this spectacular location, which is also the home of Ironman Australia.
Today’s race was held in picture perfect conditions. 780 individuals and 95 teams took part in the popular endurance event, which comprises a 1.9km swim, 90.1km ride and 21.1km run.
In the men’s race, defending champion Cam Watt had his usual strong start, establishing an early lead with a slick 21:59 swim. Jemani Francis was hot on his heels, and the two headed on to the notoriously challenging bike course with a one minute gap over a group which included Berkel, Brian Fuller, Josh Rix, Adam Holborow, Boyd Conrick, Chris Dmitrieff and local newcomer Mitch Robbins.
Meanwhile in the women’s race, Lisa Marangon exited the swim 20 seconds ahead of her major competitor, Nicole Ward. With only three women racing in today’s elite female category, the biggest challenge for the girls was the prospect of spending most of the day racing alone. With Kirsten Molloy another minute behind Ward heading on to the bike leg, the time gaps were sufficient for the women to lose sight of each other on the undulating course as they made their way south to the turn-around at Lake Cathie.
As the men made their way into the first lap of the two lap bike course, Watt and Francis held their position until the 20km mark, where they were joined by Fuller and Holborow.
By the 30km mark, the leaders had established a lead of more than two minutes over the chasers, which still included Rix, Berkel, Robbins and Conrick. By this stage, the women’s race was spreading out with 3:30 minutes gapping race leader Marangon to Ward, with another 1:30 back to Kirsten Molloy. Marangon continued to show her dominance on the bike, eventually opening up a lead of over eight minutes by the time she hit the run course.
The men’s race was started to change shape in the second lap, with Watt and Francis dropping off the blistering pace set by Fuller and Holborow.
Fuller lead Holborow into the bike/run transition, and looked strong as he headed out for the 21.1km run. The chase pack arrived at transition almost four minutes behind the two leaders, but a super-fit and determined Berkel led the charge and made quick work of chasing them down.
By the time the race leaders had completed the first of the new three-lap, flat run course, Berkel had already carved two minutes off the race leaders and things were really starting to heat up. Fuller was still in the lead, with Holborow losing his position to the charging Berkel. By the 10km mark, Berkel was just 45 seconds behind Fuller, and he was looking strong.
Meanwhile, newcomer Mitch Robbins was having an incredible day in front of his home-town crowd. By the half-way mark, Berkel had surged into first place, and Robbins had raced his way into second.
All the hard work that Holborow and Fuller had done on the bike eventually took its toll, with the two eventually passed by some strong running from Dmitrieff and Rix. Berkel stormed home with a 1:15:30 run, with Robbins crossing the finish line four minutes later to secure second place, and a quinella for Port Macquarie.
The women’s race didn’t change on the run, but Ward and Molloy were able to run almost three minutes back from their deficit they had given up to race winner Lisa Marangon.
Today’s victory consolidates Marangon’s lead in the Australian Half Ironman Series. It was an outstanding result, especially given that she finished seventh overall and third Australian in last weekend’s long course world championships which were held in Perth. Marangon’s goal now is to compete in every race within the Australian Half Ironman Series, culminating with Ironman 70.3 Geelong in February 2010.
For Berkel, today’s win couldn’t have been sweeter. He was bitterly disappointed when he was just beaten by Watt in last year’s Scody Half Ironman. Since then, he has become the second youngest man to ever win a full Ironman triathlon, at Ironman Western Australia 2008.
He certainly looks to be on track to defend his WA title in just over a month. But before then, both he and Marangon will be competing in Round 5 of the national series, the Campbell’s Shepparton Half Ironman, on 15 November.
2009 COMPETITOR INFORMATION AND RULES BOOKLET
Further information on Port Macqurie

Help save lives with the Ironblood Challenge

2009 is Year of the Blood Donor and the Local Organising Committee of the Scody Half Ironman is partnering with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to help save lives by asking competitors, their friends and families and the wider Port Macquarie community to pledge to donate blood.
We are aiming to collect 2000 pledges which will help save up to 6000 lives.
Click here to find out more>>

5K Fun Run

SNAP PRINTING 5K FUN RUN returns this year as part of the Scody Half Ironman Triathlon Festival...

ATTENTION TRIATHLON CLUBS -SPECIAL INVITATION
An invitiation is extended to all Clubs wishing to erect Club marquees at the race venue in Westport Park, to lodge a request via email with the Race Director (kenbaggs@ironmanoz.com). Details of size and/or additional structures/vehicles should be submitted with the request. Space will then be allocated according to first in first served basis.