Lone NZ medallist at Kona

Wanaka's Simone Maier was the lone New Zealander to emerge with a medal at the Ironman world championships in Hawaii.

Maier was third in the women's 25-29 years ago group in yesterday's gruelling 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km marathon run in the heat and humidity of Kona.

Forty New Zealand triathletes qualified for the world championships, comprised of 35 in age group races and five in the elite men's and women's races.

Among the other prominent finishers was former kayaking world champion Ben Fouhy, who was 60th in his 30-34 years age group.

Former Commonwealth Games marathon representative, Craig Kirkwood of Tauranga completed his first Ironman world championship, finishing 39th in the same age group.

- NZPA