Multisports: Fifth Ironman title

Shannon Eckstein won a record-equalling fifth Ironman title at North Cronulla in Australia yesterday while Alicia Mariott became the first woman to win the triple crown of the surf lifesaving's major events.

Eckstein and Mariott emerged in the energy-sapping, hot conditions to claim the overall titles in the $250,000 series.

New Zealand champion Daniel Moodie, meanwhile, ended his debut season in the lucrative series as he started with a 20th placing, narrowly missing out on the final.