KEY POINTS:
New Zealand scored two top 10 finishes at the world ironman championships in Hawaii today.
Aucklander Cameron Brown finished fifth in the men's race while Christchurch's Gina Ferguson was eighth in the women's race.
Taupo's Bryan Rhodes was 23rd in the men's event while Jo Lawn was 14th in the women's.
The men's race was won in eight hours, 17 minutes, 45 seconds by Australian Craig Alexander, who finished the gruelling event with a 2hr 45min 01sec marathon to secure the victory.
Burguera Llanos (Spain) took second in 8hr 20min 50sec with Belgian Rutger Beke third in 8hr 21min 23sec.
Brown started well with a strong 3.8km swim in 51min 50sec, then stayed within reach after clocking 4hr 36min 47sec for the 180km cycle.
Usually strong in the punishing final 42.195km run, Brown struggled somewhat to finish in 2hr 53min 39sec for an overall time of 8hr 26min 17sec.
The women's race was won by Britain's Chrissie Wellington in 9hr 06min 23sec. Second was Yvonne Van Vierken of Austria in 9hr 21min 20sec with Germany's Sandra Wallenhorst third in 9hr 22min 52sec.
Ferguson's time was 9hr 36min 53sec.
Brown ran as high as third after recovering from a puncture to his bike on the cycle leg which cost him valuable time.
Brown rode hard after the wheel change and was able to catch Alexander and they rode to the finish of the 180kms together.
"Off the bike I felt good and settled in to a good rhythm and Alexander and I then caught up to (Germany's) Timo Bracht and ran together for about the first 14kms.
" Alexander's legs were ticking over quicker than mine and he slowly ran off into the distance.
"By the time I made it to the Energy Lab I was in third, but the 42 degree temperatures zapped everything from me.
"I was passed by Beke and then along the Queen K Highway, Ronnie Schildknecht (Switzerland) and Bracht passed me too.
"My legs were dying but I soldiered on to finish sixth, only to be promoted to fifth, as Bracht didn't serve a time penalty for drafting on the bike and was subsequently disqualified.
"Despite a bit of bad luck with the flat, I am extremely proud of my efforts and can hold my head high."
- NZPA
