Around 1 800 contestants arose early on Sunday morning to compete in the eighth annual Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa, facing what has been dubbed as the fiercest Ironman race in South Africa to date. Competitors had to overcome gale force winds, early morning and late evening showers, choppy waves, excessive currents and freezing weather along their 225-odd-kilometre journey.
Around 1 800 contestants arose early on Sunday morning to compete in the eighth annual Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa, facing what has been dubbed as the fiercest Ironman race in South Africa to date. Competitors had to overcome gale force winds, early morning and late evening showers, choppy waves, excessive currents and freezing weather along their 225-odd-kilometre journey.
Only 1 376 entrants crossed the finish line, as hundreds of others were knocked out of the race by awful conditions, sheer fatigue and, in an unprecedented turn of events, hypothermia.
The medical tent saw more action in the first hour than it had in any previous race, according to one of the medical staff on site. Local athlete Sean Swanepoel, in his first full Iron Man at age 23, managed to cross the line in 15 hours and says that he’s “very happy” with how it went.
Walter Eksteen, also a first-timer, managed to haul in a 13-hour finish, but said that it was under the “worst possible conditions”. He also said that the sideline support and the grace of God were two of the biggest assets he had and allowed him to cross the line after an exhausting day in which he and his brother ran on feeling instead of time-splits. Eksteen said the wind was so forceful that smaller contestants were literally blown off their bicycles and into the bushes lining the road.
Bossie Bosman was also happy with his performance, coming in at 14 hours and 45 minutes, but also mentioned the terrible weather as a major factor in the event.
Spaniard Clemente Alonso-Mckernan came in as the first male in eight and a half hours, while number one-ranked female, Natasha Badmann from Switzerland, came in at 9 hours and 47 minutes to be the first of her gender across the line.
Kent Horner was the first South African male in at 10th place, while defending champion Raynard Tissink placed 15th. Andi Boecherer, of Germany, was leading the entire race, and had a four-minute lead over second place when 18km into the run he began to cough blood.
This led to his withdrawal and consequently opened up the race for the other challengers.
Results of Grahamstown athletes.
475. Walter Eksteen 13:03:29 (1:34:46 swim, 6:36:26 cycle and 4:38:18 run)
677. Deon Boshoff 13:45:20 (1:19:57 swim, 6:48:50 cycle and 5:27:58 run)
977. Nolan Berriman 14:45:25 (1:35:29 swim, 7:05:44 cycle and 5:45:06 run)
978. Bossie Bosman 14:45:25 (1:50:35 swim, 7:24:17 cycle and 5:06:18 run)
1 062. Sean Swanepoel 15:04:10 (1:28:41 swim, 7:01:40 cycle and 6:25:53 run)
1 277. Johan Conradie 16:02:49 (2:13:36 swim, 7:37:07 cycle and 5:37:59 run)
