Multisport: Ironman athletes eye Kona

Ten-time Ironman New Zealand champ Cameron Brown. Photo / Getty Images

Sooner or later, it all comes down to Kona.

Even Cameron Brown, who won his 10th Ironman New Zealand at Taupo on Saturday, admits as much.

Brown blitzed the field in appalling conditions to record an emphatic eight hours 31 minutes 07 seconds win, nearly 10 minutes ahead of arch-rival Terenzzo Bozzone's second-placed 8hr 41min 54sec.

Swiss ironman Matthias Hecht was third with 8hr 45min 36sec on a day which was notable for the incessant and heavy rain which drenched the 1500-strong field.

Brown was more than happy to notch up his 10th win in 11 years, but was candid in his admission that he'd trade them all in for just one victory at the ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii.

"It's pretty special what I did today, but I still want to win Hawaii - that's probably the ultimate goal. I'd probably trade all these wins for a win in Hawaii," Brown said.

"I haven't won in Hawaii. That's what really counts."

Brown does have a long and illustrious Kona career, having raced there 11 times since his debut 26th place in October 2000.

Brown's placings since have fluctuated - Kona offers harsh and unforgiving conditions, with heat and wind always a challenge - with a second in 2005 his best effort.

He's also picked up a couple of thirds, in 2003 and 2004, and top 10 placings on three other occasions.

There have, of course, been times Brown has struggled, his 34th finish in 2004 a definite low point.

Last year's 17th placing could have been better too, with plantar fasciitis problems in his foot - also problematic in Taupo yesterday - proving difficult to overcome.

Bozzone, whose second place to Brown on Saturday mirrored last year's finish, also is structuring his season around Kona in October.

The 26-year-old has already competed there twice, finishing 11th in his 2009 debut, and struggling to 20th last year.

"Kona is the pinnacle event, that's the ultimate event to win," Bozzone said. "That'll be my long-term goal, to win there, hopefully a few times.

"But Ironman New Zealand is a great race too, and maybe when Cam retires, I can win one..."

Bozonne plans on travelling to the United States at the end of the month for a few half-ironman 70.3 races through to June.

"Then we'll calm down the racing and focus on Kona."

The 70.3 world championships in Las Vegas, scheduled for September, are also a possibility, said Bozzone, who won the event in 2008.

"I'll see how the training is going, how the body is, and I might jump in and give that a go."

Kona is also providing incentive for rookie ironman Samantha Warriner, who won the Ironman New Zealand women's event on Saturday in her debut over the distance.

A former Olympic triathlete, Warriner araced positively in Saturday's race despite the challenging conditions. Just three seconds behind the leaders at the end of the swim, Warriner attacked early in the bike leg and defended her lead right through to the finish.

She finished in nine hours 28 minutes 24 seconds, well clear of world champion Mirinda Carfrae (Australia), who ran herself into the ground to take second in 9hr 31min 33sec.

Seven-times Ironman New Zealand champion Jo Lawn was third, a further 20 seconds astray.

Both Carfrae and Lawn were punished by costly delays after puncturing in the cycle leg, but Warriner had battles of her own to fight after undergoing surgery for a racing heartbeat barely three months ago.

With Saturday's effort having proven her recovery was complete, Warriner now wants to test herself against the world's best in Kona.

"I'm going to head off to the States, do some 70.3 races and to accumulate points so I can qualify for Kona. The main goal is Kona in October."

Lawn, who has "26 or 27" ironman races to her credit, is already planning another assault on the Hawaiian race, after a disappointing 20th finish last year.

"Kona was an horrific race, and I never thought I'd be able to bounce back from that," she said.

"But it was a lesson well learned. You have to focus, back yourself, and don't change anything to beat anyone else."

Lawn has another ironman maxim, which will play a big part when she lines up at Kona in October.

"You never give up because you never know what might happen out there. That's the spirit of ironman -- you never give up."

- NZPA