Ironman 70.3 Bozzone’s goal
Kiwi Terenzo Bozzone will back up his Ironman New Zealand third placing with a tilt at the 70.3 world title, Ben Strang reports. After a breakthrough effort at Ironman New Zealand, Kiwi Terenzo Bozzone will be turning his sights to The 70.3 World Championships later this year.
Bozzone finished third behind Estonian Marko Albert and Kiwi legend Cameron Brown in Taupo on Saturday, and was shattered as he crossed the line.
It was the first ironman he has completed since 2011, when he also completed Ironman New Zealand.
He had been right in the race until about halfway through the marathon, when he dropped behind Brown as he chased Albert.
‘‘This was a really exciting race for me,’’ Bozzone said.
‘‘Last time I finished an ironman was down here in 2011, so it’s good to get another one under the belt.
‘‘I tell you what, you have no idea how hard that last 20k was, but I actually enjoyed it. Well, relatively.’’
Bozzone finished second at the Ironman 70.3 Worlds last year, and said his goal this year is to go one better and win the title he won in 2008.
He was third in the Ironman 70.3 in Auckland this year, but had five wins at the distance last year.
‘‘My big goal for this year is to give 70.3 Worlds another crack,’’ he said.
‘‘I mean, I want to go to Kona and I want to race there, and it’s definitely on Winners are grinners: Terenzo Bozzone, Marko Albert and Cameron Brown. Photo: Getty Images the cards, but I think the focus will be on 70.3 and the Worlds.’’
For Cambridge woman Candice Hammond, third in the elite women’s race, she said her goal is to relax and head back to the farm after her efforts in Taupo.
Hammond had one of her better swim legs in recent memory, finishing in less than an hour, but still had too much time to catch up on eventual winner Meredith Kessler and second placed Gina Crawford.
‘‘I was pretty pleased with the swim, because I usually take more than an hour, which isn’t really good enough when I call myself a pro athlete,’’ she said. ‘‘I tell you what, you have no idea how hard that last 20k was, but I actually enjoyed it. Well, relatively.’’
‘‘My bike and run was really good. Overall I was happy with the performance.’’
She said her next event will likely be the ironman in Cairns, Australia in June.
For now she will be recovering, and plans to head back to the sheep farm she works on in the Waikato.
‘‘I’ve already been told the sheep are in the shed waiting for me, so I’m off back there.
‘‘I think it keeps me really grounded.’’
Terenzo Bozzone is heartened by his third placing in his first ironman since 2011.