Multisport: Spectre of Hawaii hangs over Brown's elite status

Taupo Ironman women's winner, Jo Lawn, who made it three wins in a row yesterday, will compete at Ironman Australia in just five weeks in an unconventional buildup to the Hawaii Ironman. Picture / Fotopress

Cameron Brown rules - in Taupo at least - but to make the step up to the elite of world ironmen he must win in Hawaii.

Some time after he had finished a creditable 27th in Saturday's Bonita NZ Ironman Championship, 1985 winner Scott Molina praised Brown's fifth straight triumph.

"He's not done with. He is looking for more," said Molina, who won the inaugural New Zealand title in Auckland and went on to win in Hawaii three years later.

"Cameron Brown is certainly in the top 10 of our sport [internationally].

"But he is not quite there with the Dave Scotts and Mark Allens yet. Certainly, he is better than [two-time New Zealand winner] Ken Glah but he needs to take that next step. He can win Hawaii."

And that was the focus as Brown reflected on a victory in which he blitzed the field by almost 20 minutes.

He clipped a couple of minutes from his 2003 record in clocking 8h 20m 15s, which was only 40 minutes outside Molina's winning time 20 years ago on a much shorter course. In winning five on the trot, Brown emulated Allen, who was unbeaten in Hawaii from 1989-1993. No one else has managed that - anywhere.

Brown does not need to be reminded of the spectre hanging over Hawaii.

"I really want to win in Germany and Hawaii," said Brown in later referring to his remaining races this year. "Hopefully I can go [on to win in] Germany and then Hawaii. You are 'the man' if you win in Hawaii."

For now, he is the man in Taupo - the race in which he finished second twice before making it his own.

Women's winner Jo Lawn - three in a row and almost as convincing as Brown - has her initial sights set elsewhere but with the same long-term goal. "All these races help me towards Hawaii. Today was not my day record-wise but Cam [Brown] just blew me away. He has had a rough year. I'm glad he nailed it."

Brown and Lawn set themselves for winning efforts with solid swims.

Brown was 10th out of the water, about 1m 20s down on tearaway leader Brent Foster, who narrowly missed his own record, while Lawn was third woman out (39th overall) but more than 5min down on Monica Caplan who shaved 3min off fellow American Andrea Fisher's 2003 49m 30s record.

On the bike, in conditions made difficult in the forest where temperatures dropped to around 6-7C with a disconcerting wind-chill factor, the flying New Zealanders made their move.

After being more than 3min down on Kieren Doe, Brown closed to within 30s at the bike-run transition and took the lead soon after.

Lawn took the lead on the 180km cycle leg and simply cleared out from the gallant Caplan, who turned in personal bests in the water and on the run.

Lawn will test herself again in five weeks at Ironman Australia in taking a different approach in her lead-up to Hawaii.

"I want to see if I can nail two [titles] on the one build-up, take two months off then build-up to Hawaii," said Lawn.

"It worked for Lisa Bentley two years ago. Life is about taking risks. I'm taking a risk."

Caplan, the fourth seed, lost 5min to Lawn on the bike and 10 on the run but was still 13min clear of unseeded Claire Murray, who was steady, rather than spectacular, over the three disciplines.

Briton Jess Draskau Petersson charged from nowhere - a 70min swim and 5 1/2 hour cycle - to snatch fourth, just missing the 10-hour barrier by 46s. Brown was in control throughout. He turned in a strong swim and was second only to Doe on the bike - by 36s - and recorded the fastest run, his 2h 48m 28s 4min faster than Canadian-born but, for the last five years, New Zealand-based Gordo Byrn, who held off local hero Bryan Rhodes.

"I ran my heart out," said Rhodes before leaving the media conference to be sick.

"I have never run so good. We were up against one of the best in the world. He [Brown] showed us true and proper. My crowd brought me home.

"Part of the way through I thought 'this sucks' but I kept going."

Byrn too was full of praise for Brown.

Greeting Brown at the conference, Byrn said: "Good work, man. That was awesome. You broke the record? By doing what you did, you took the pressure off me. I looked at Cam's bike yesterday and knew he meant business. I realised I was racing for second."

He was and did, just as girlfriend Caplan did - finishing a little over an hour later. Ironman is like that. Working for and supporting one another.

The stories went on until late at night as those who spent almost twice as long in battle as Brown faced their own struggles to get home before the midnight cut-off.

Some had to walk but nobody cared. Getting there is all that counts.