Multisport: Cameron Brown second in German ironman

New Zealand triathlete Cameron Brown finished second to world champion Normann Stadler in Ironman Germany in Frankfurt early this morning.

Brown, who trailed the powerful German by 15 minutes after the 180km cycle leg, gained on him during the 42km marathon run to finish only eight minutes behind.

It is the third straight year Brown has finished runner-up in the event -- rated second only to the world championships in Hawaii.

He was second to another German, Stefan Holzner, in 2003 and 2004.

While Brown had worked hard to improve his cycling strength, he was unable to match the power of Stadler .

Brown , a five-time Bonita Ironman New Zealand champion, continues to be the most consistent performer in the world Ironman scene, only twice finishing outside the top three in his Ironman career.

He was second out of the water, recording 47m 52s for the 3.8km swim in the Langenaar Waldsee lake, setting the pace with German Uwe Widmann in the early part of the 180km cycle section.

Stadler and Ironman Lanzarote runner-up Steffen Liebetrau powered through the field before the world champion unleashed.

The Kiwi was the only one to make serious inroads into Stadler's advantage but the German was never under any danger of winning his home-country ironman.

Brown produced the day's best run split of 2hr 51min 56sec, with only three triathletes going under the 3-hour mark for the marathon.

* Results: Normann Stadler (GER) 8:20.59, 1; Cameron Brown (NZL) 8:28.39, 2; Markus Forster (GER) 8:30.22, 3.

- NZPA