The Hoff and Ryf show true grit
US PROFESSIONAL triathlete Ben Hoffman successfully defended his Ironman African Championship title, while Ironman World Championship winner Daniela Ryf took the honours in the female race which was held at Hobie Beach, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth yesterday.
Hoffman crossed the finish line just under eight hours with a time of seven hours, 58 minutes and 39 seconds.
His winning performance shows a slight improvement from his time last year of 8:13:20.
Ryf was victorious with a time of 8:47:01.
The Hoff was behind in the swimming and cycling legs, but went all out on the run.
He was given a hard time on the race course by second-placed Nils Frommhold of Germany who was behind Hoffman by a minute throughout the run.
Frommhold, who won the race 2014, clocked a time of 7:59:29.
Kyle Buckingham was the first South African to cross the finish line. He finished in fourth place – a major improvement from his 11th position of last year.
“It may have looked like it was an easy second victory for me, but there is no easy Ironman,” Hoffman said.
“This course is challenging I think the time was deceptive.
“I was surprised at how fast I went but I felt good. I came here well prepared – it was a major goal of mine to try and defend the title.
“I really love the race here. I wanted to come back and show the community that I was prepared and ready to defend the title.
“I tried to challenge myself. I really pushed the pace . . . obviously Nils was behind me. He never went away and kept pushing me throughout the race.”
The 33-year-old athlete, who won the Ironman Calgary 70.3, said this was the first time he had won an Ironman title twice.
“This is my sixth Ironman win now and this is the first time I defended an Ironman title successfully,” Hoffman said. “For me it’s a new feeling and it’s a really awesome one. in
“I have tried to defend the previous four races that I had won before this one last year, but wasn’t able to do so.
“I came second a couple of times. It’s really hard to defend an Ironman and to do it at a regional championship against a field of this calibre is extra special.
“And to do it in under eight hours is the cherry on top.”
Ahead of the race, the Swiss female winner Ryf said she would be happy with just finishing the race, but the 29year-old has done more than that by clinching her first African Championship win yesterday.
Ryf said she did not expect to win the race as she went into the competition with a back injury.
“I was very unsure if I could finish as I pulled a muscle on my back about 10 days ago.
“I could barely train. To be able to come out with such a performance is incredible.
“I could not really swim properly as I was hurting, so I just tried to not go too hard.
“On the bike it was the same – it was not easy but eventually I was able to turn things around and get the body working.
“The run was very good. I am very glad that my body handled it so well and I could give such a good performance,” Ryf said.
“The bike course was spectacular and the crowd on the run course helped to motivate me. . They almost push you through the whole course.
“It’s been a great experience and I am very happy that I came here to South Africa.”
Men top five: Ben Hoffman 7:58:39 Nils Frommhold 7:59:29 David McNamee 8:07:30 Kyle Buckingham 8:08:57 Jan van Berkel 8:12:34
Women top five: Daniela Ryf 8:47:01 Kaisa Lehtonen 8:52:25 Susie Cheetham 9:04:48 Astrid Stienen 9:12:10 Gurutze Frades 9:13:04