Belgian wins Ironman New Zealand on reduced course

The world's fastest Ironman, Belgian Marino Vanhoenaker produced a withering final 5km to take out the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand in Taupo today.

The race was postponed from yesterday and reduced to a 70.3 (half Ironman distance) because of the storm that hit the region.

Vanhoenaker came from behind with a 1:12 run to win in 4:22.46, less than a minute ahead of early run leader Tim Reed (Australia) and 10-time Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown who was only a further 30 seconds back.

American Meredith Kessler, the Ironman Canada winner, was the class of the field in the women's race, second out of the water and into a sizeable lead on the bike before clocking the fastest run split to win in 4:22.46. She was nearly eight minutes clear of Australia's Kate Bevilaqua who just held off the flying kiwi Joanna Lawn for second.