Ironman: Kessler clinches fifth title on the trot

American sensation Meredith Kessler wins her fifth straight title in Taupo. Photo / Delly Carr

American Meredith Kessler has claimed her fifth straight title at Ironman New Zealand, breaking her own course record set last year.

She finished the race in 8h 56m 8s on Saturday, breaking her old mark by over eight minutes.

It could have been an even quicker time but Kessler took a wrong turn late in the bike leg, costing her a couple of minutes.

"I'm absolutely pumped. You know, I felt responsible to the city of Taupo to deliver on that, they have just been so welcoming to my husband andI."

She said she was looking for the course record and was rapt to get it in the end.

"No day is perfect. But overall you have to be consistent over all three disciplines which I did today and really it was a very pleasing performance.

"It sets my year off on a very positive note and that is very exciting."

Second place went to Lucy Gossage (Great Britain) in a time of 9h 5m 8s, while Australian Carrie Lester finished third in 9h 7m 19s. Michelle Bremer was the best of the Bay of Plenty athletes, finishing sixth in the women's race.

Kessler said when it gets tough on the course she tried to think of people who would love to be in her position and it drove her forward: "I just think about people who can't. And people who want to do what we are doing and maybe they are injured or disabled and not able to, and that motivates me."