Last year the race was contested in a driving rain. This year the North Island's unpredictable weather bit the organizers of the Kelloggs Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand harder, postponing it a day and shortening it to a 70.3.

The most resilient athletes found ways to prevail, with Belgium's Marino Vanhoenacker outlegging Tim Reed to the finish, by 48sec, 3:55:03. Age-defying Cameron Brown came third in 3:56:38. The 40-year-old Brown has won Ironman New Zealand 10 times.

American Meredith Kessler had an easier time of it, posting a 4:22:46 for the only sub 4:30 turned in by a woman on the day. She led from the gun.

Kelloggs Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand
Taupo, New Zealand
March 3, 2012
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.

Men
1. Marino Vanhoenacker: 3:55:03
2. Timothy Reed: 3:55:51
3. Cameron Brown: 3:56:38
4. Romain Guillaume: 3:58:03
5. Aaron Farlow: 3:58:57
6. Marko Albert: 4:00:43
7. Terenzo Bozzone: 4:01:51
8. Guy Crawford: 4:03:29
9. Jamie Whyte: 4:12:05
10. Shanon Stallard: 4:14:46

Women
1. Meredith Kessler: 4:22:46
2. Kate Bevilaqua: 4:30:37
3. Joanna Lawn: 4.30:40
4. Jessica Jacobs: 4:31:46
5. Gina Crawford: 4.:32:45
6. Hilary Wicks: 4:32:51 (F35-39)
7. Belinda Harper: 4:37:49
8. Anna Ross: 4:39:47 (F30-34)
9. Susie Wood: 4:41:33 (F35-39)
10. Candice Hammond: 4:43:25