Canadian Michael Coughlin made up for an 11th-best 10km swim with a dominating 90-mile bike split to take a 21 minute 13 seconds lead after Day 1 of the 31st Ultraman World Championship.

Kailua-Kona resident Staci Studer put together less spectacular swim and bike legs but forged an even bigger 37-minute 18 seconds lead on her closest pursuer in the 5-woman Ultraman Hawaii field.

The Ultraman Triathlon World Championship is a three-day event held on the weekend after Thanksgiving which is a triathletic circumnavigation of the Big Island of Hawaii. Day 1 consists of a 10 kilometer swim from the Kailua Pier to Keauhou Bay, and continues with a 90-mile bike leg south from Keauhou to Volcanoes National Park which includes nearly 8,000 feet of climbing. Day 2 is a 171-mile bike leg which starts at Volcanoes, goes through Hilo, climbs to Waimea and proceeds north over the Kohala Range to Hawi. Day 3 is a double marathon south along the Ironman bike course and back to Kailua-Kona.

Men

Jeremy Howard of Shelton, Connecticut aced the swim leg marked by choppy waters but little resistance from negative currents. Howard arrived at Keauhou Bay in 2:26:03, 11:20 off Jonas Coltings's 2004 race record split but good enough to open up a 12 minute lead on Marty Raymond and pre-race co-favorite David Kalinowski of Australia, and significantly, as things developed, a 30 minute lead on 2011 Ultraman Hawaii runner-up Michael Coughlin of Canada.

Coughlin, who plotted to avenge his 2011 runner-up finish with fierce training, was 11th out of the water but felt strong and ready to unleash a better-prepared bike leg. “After struggling on the Day One climb last time because I was a little light on calories, my crew stuffed me with food and I had some more energy,” said Coughlin, a 42-year-old endurance sports coach from Guelph, Ontario. “But it was hard this time! With strong headwinds, it hit me hard later on the final 20-mile climb.”

While he may have been suffering, so were his rivals and Coughlin blitzed past them like a knife through butter. Among his 10 victims was David Kalinowski, who was passed at the 50 kilometer mark. “Mike had an incredible, incredible ride!” said Kalinowski. “He was stomping. He is an animal. It was tough conditions and he absolutely monstered it. Hats off to him!”

By the end of the ride Coughlin posted a 4:49:59 bike split, which was 24 minutes better than the next-best effort of Billy Edwards who finished 3rd on the day, and turned his 30 minute deficit into a 21 minute lead over Kalinowski and 23:42 over Billy Edwards at the finish of the ride.

While his bravura ride carried the day, Coughlin looked spent and needed immediate massage care for his legs and some rest before the long Day 2 bike ride Saturday. “Coughlin was stupid fast,” said Edwards. “He rode that fast and we had massive headwinds on that last climb. I don’t know where he got that power. But tomorrow is long day - and I feel it will be my day.”

Howard held the lead for a long time, but faded to 4th with a 5:50:04 bike leg. 53 year old Miro Kregar of Slovenia, the 2013 Ultraman World Champion, had his usual sluggish 3:11:58 swim but fell back to 12th with an unusually sub-par 6:04:35 bike split.

Women

Home town favorite Staci Studer led the women’s swim in 3:10:20 which gave her a 20-minute lead on Beth Brewster of Kingston, Washington, 22 minutes on Kat Calder-Becker of Montreal, and 62 minutes on an off-form Iona McKenzie of Yellowknife, Northern Territories, Canada. After a smooth 6:31:17 ride, 34 minutes better than Kat Calder-Becker, 49 minutes better than McKenzie, and 65 minutes better than Brewster, Studer earned a 37:15 lead going into the 171-mile Day 2 bike leg.

2015 Ultraman World Championship - Day 1
Kailua-Kona Hawaii to Volcanoes National Monument
November 27, 2015
S 6.2 mi. / B 90 mi.

Results

Men

1. Michael Coughlin (CAN) S 2:56:11 / B 4:49:59 / TOT 7:46:10
2. David Kalinowski (AUS) S 2:38:50 / B 5:28:33 / TOT 8:07:23
3. Billy Edwards (USA) S 2:51:55 / B 5:13:56 / TOT 8:09:51
4. Jeremy Howard (USA) S 2:26:03 / B 5:50:04 / TOT 8:16:07
5. Tony O'Keefe (CAN) S 2:39:31 / B 5:56:06 / TOT 8:35:37
6. Trout Wayth (AUS) S 3:02:34 / B 5:39:22 / TOT 8:41:56
7. Christian Isakson (USA) S 2:48:18 / B 5:55:33 / TOT 8:43:51
8. Kevin Willis (CAN) S 3:02:21 / B 5:45:42 / TOT 8:48:03
9. Inaki de la Parra Barreras (MEX) S 2:53:02 / B 5:55:13 / TOT 8:48:15
10. Michael Owen (CAN) S 2:50:03 / B 6:12:03 / TOT 9:02:06

Women

1. Staci Studer (USA) S 3:10:20 / B 6:31:17 / TOT 10:01:37
2. Kat Calder-Becker (CAN) S 3:32:00 / B 7:06:55 / TOT 10:38:55
3. Beth Brewster (USA) S 3:30:34 / B 7:36:50 / TOT 11:07:34
4. Iona McKenzie (CAN) S 4:12:46 / B 7:20:18 / TOT 11:33:09
5. Kim Rouse (USA) S 4:18:30 B 7:41:27 TOT 11:59:57