Graduate snares top 70.3 prize
A GOLD Coast university graduate shook off breathing difficulties to be the fastest woman to finish the Cairns Ironman 70.3.
Pint-sized triathlete Madi Roberts, 22, crossed the finish line 28 minutes ahead of the runner-up female in the 18-24 years age group.
She said her race went to plan after a slow first lap in the running leg.
“My ribs got a bit stiff on the first lap of the run and I was having trouble breathing but I got it together for the second lap,” she said.
Her performance shocked herself after months of short distanced training.
“I was actually a bit nervous about this race because my preparation was mostly for sprint and Olympic distance racing, where it is flat out and gung-ho all the way,” she said.
“My concern was about how I was going to pace it but I found it pretty good and I am very happy. I was in my zone the whole way and just did my own thing.”
Roberts completed the 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21km run in just over four hours and 32 minutes.
The youngster, who has a Bachelor of Business, lives at Varsity Lakes near Burleigh and works in marketing for a pet products company.
The Ironman 70.3 Cairns features a course memorable for the swim at Palm Cove, a bike leg that travels up towards Port Douglas and run that includes the Cairns boardwalk.
It was launched in 2011.
Roberts first competed in triathlons when she was a 13year-old after years of participating at cross-country events
She has competed at most 70.3 events across the country and was looking for a new experience.
“I wanted to come to Cairns because it is a lovely place and the course is awesome – I really enjoyed it.,” she said. didn’t care about the wind.
“I was just hoping it wouldn’t rain and I got my wish, thankfully.”
“I was really happy with the conditions and I didn’t even mind that little headwind on the run – it was really nice.”
Roberts is now considering competing in full Ironman “I races next year. Property investor Renee Kiley finished in second placed, followed by St Kilda athlete Esther Barker in third.
Both were in the 30-34 year old age group.
There are 30 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee.