Ferguson in Breakthrough Ironman Victory

10th September: For immediate release

Ferguson in Breakthrough Ironman Victory

For the fifth time in 2007 a New Zealander has stood at the top of an Ironman podium with Gina Ferguson achieving a career first victory in Ironman Wisconsin in the USA earlier today.

The Christchurch triathlete led from the start to set a new course record and win by a massive 24 minutes.

The win for the 26 year old follows Kieran Doe’s victory in Ironman Canada and Chris McDonald who won Ironman Louisville.

Ferguson was not scheduled to compete in the USA. After placing fourth in Ironman Switzerland in July, Ferguson set her self for Ironman UK last month.

She was forced to withdraw after a puncture early on the bike could not be repaired and she had to walk 20kms back to the transition in cold and wet conditions.

Ferguson and her coach Greg Fraine decided that because she was in such strong form that she should compete in the USA on her way home instead.

It proved an insightful decision.

She was third of all competitors out of the 3.8km swim today in 53min 59sec just ahead of American Hillary Biscay. Ferguson, who had worked hard in previous months to improve her biking skills, showed a liking for the hilly 180km course to stretch her lead to 12 minutes with the second best time of the day.

The New Zealander then went into overdrive with a 3hr 14min marathon to clock 9:37:03 to set a new course record by nearly 10 minutes. She finished more than 24 minutes ahead of Biscay with German Ina Reinders third.

“That was the best race I have ever done,” Ferguson said. “I’ve worked so hard and this is just great. The crowds just lined the streets. The feeling is amazing.”

It is just her fourth start in an Ironman after finishing fifth in New Zealand in March, fourth in Switzerland and failing to finish in UK.

“Gina was pretty low after that because she had worked so hard in training,” coach Greg Fraine said.

“We managed to get re-focused and look at the options. The course probably suited her more. She is a very talented athlete and a very tough competitor. I’m delighted for her. She has enormous potential.”

Triathlon New Zealand CEO Dave Beeche is delighted at yet further success for a New Zealand athlete.

“Gina is such a determined and focused athlete with an astounding ability to compete over a range of distances that this victory was always a case of when rather than if. She is the defending champion in the Contact Energy Cup and now an Ironman winner, congratulations to her and her coaching team.

“It is also very timely given we launched the new dates and races for the My Sport Series, including the Contact Energy Cup races, just last week. We would love to see Gina return to defend her title in what will now I’m sure be a busy summer of racing for her.”

Results, Ironman Wisconsin (3.8km swim 180km bike 42km run):
Women: Gina Ferguson (NZL) 9:37.03 (53.59 swim, 5:22.07 bike, 3:14.45 run), 1 (Course record); Hillary Biscay (USA) 10:01.30, 2; Ina Reinders (GER) 10:03.39, 3.

ENDS

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