Melbourne Shines for Inaugural Gwm Ironman 70.3 Melbourne

Athletes took on a 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run, before crossing the finish line in front of a packed crowd in St Kilda’s Catani Gardens.

The flat and fast course provided plenty of opportunities for athletes to set personal best IRONMAN 70.3 race times, with the bike course along Melbourne’s famous Beach Road proving popular.

Sarah Howe was the first female across the line in 4:23:26, an impressive performance in just her first IRONMAN 70.3.

“It was awesome, absolutely loved it, great atmosphere, really fast course, lots of fun,” said Sarah. “I had a pretty good swim, got knocked about a little bit at the start but was really happy with the swim. I literally got my new TT bike yesterday, one of my mates built it for me yesterday, he spent the whole day doing it and today was the first time that I’d ridden it. The first 40km I didn’t know how to get into the big chain ring so was in the little chain ring for 40km, finally I got it into the big one and I was cruising. Going into the run I felt pretty strong, probably went a bit too quick at the start but it’s my first IRONMAN 70.3.”

Howe enjoyed the support she received on course from the thousands who lined the course all day.

“It’s so good, all the hours of training makes it all worthwhile, all the early mornings and lots of hours put into it and sacrifice,” she said. “I love the atmosphere, I love all the people, it’s just a great event. So much support out there, I love how the names are on the bibs and everyone is yelling out ‘go Sarah’, I just love it.”

Howe finished more than three minutes clear of Hong Kong’s Leanne Szeto, with Elise Windsor-Smith third.

Jamie Huggett was the first male in 3:55:29, with Ryan Miller just over 30 seconds behind in second with David Fawkes third.

For Ryan Miller the support out on course, and having an event like this back in Melbourne after two years, made the day even more special.

“It was good, great conditions, good atmosphere and great to have crowds back,” said Miller. “The swim started a bit slow for me so I worked my way through the bike and then it was just a really flat run course which was really good for putting in a fast run time at the end there. There were people everywhere, the course was packed the whole way, even right out on the bike, just great to have atmosphere back and racing back in Melbourne.”

Darwin’s Allirra Jennings finished in 6:09:06, representing TriMob, an Australian First Nations Triathlon Club that was established in 2020.

“The water wasn’t as cold as I thought it was going to be and I’m really thankful for that and I’ve taken a minute off my last personal best so happy with that,” said Jennings. “It was awesome, the bike was great, the atmosphere was awesome, the run course was really aesthetic and kept your mind off the pain.

“I’m with Tri Mob, we are the world’s oldest culture but the world’s youngest Tri Club,” she said. “We’re bringing more females into triathlon and it’s just as important to bring more First Nations people into triathlon, promoting living a healthy life, doing things that make your family proud. I want to see Tri Mob to be big enough at each event to have a tent in the Tri Club Village, that’s the goal.”

Jennings is a graduate of the Indigenous Marathon Program developed by Rob De Castella, and she’s set to return to the road soon for the Gold Coast Marathon, Berlin Marathon and London Marathon.

Dan Reilly is best known as the Foreman from The Block but turned his attention to triathlon today, completing the 90km ride as a part of a relay team.

“Amazing day, feeling really good, I’m going to come back to be honest, I want to do one on my own now,” said Reilly. “I got three hours 30, wanted to go sub four so really happy with the time, going to come back and beat that time. It was amazing out on course, so many locals came out, they were all cheering us on, there was music being played, it was an amazing day here in Melbourne, fun all round.”

Emma Mickle’s road to the finish line at GWM IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne is one of grit, determination and sheer will to succeed.

In 2020 Mickle was hiking in New Zealand when she was crushed by a tree, resulting in 20 broken bones, including three vertebrae which impacted her spinal cord and temporarily paralysed her from the waist down.

Since then the 29-year-old has had her sight set on making it to the finish line in Catani Gardens, and did that today with the support of her friend Melanie Skicko who also raced.

“I’ve got no words, I didn’t think this would happen, from where we were, we’ve just been super lucky with recovery, my legs move so I’ll keep moving until they stop,” said Mickle. “The support out there was 10 out of 10, and my family and friends were great, I don’t think I’d be alive without them, it’s been pretty rough.”