Chris McCormack, the 1997 ITU short course World Champion, beat Olivier Marceau, the 2000 ITU short course World Champion, to take the Challenge Niederbronn-les-Bains title Sunday in France. McCormack’s excellent 3:50:48 on a tough, hilly course in France, outran Marceau by 2:59 and topped third place Raynard Tissink of South Africa by 5:41.

McCormack’s triumph was his third title at that distance of a largely European season, following wins at Ironman China 70.3 in April and Ironman Austria 70.3 in May.

In the women’s contest, fellow Australian Rebekah Keat smashed an excellent field which included 2008 Ironman Western Australia and 2009 Challenge Wanaka winner Gina Ferguson of New Zealand, hitting the finish of the rugged, hilly course in 4:27:12 – 7:23 ahead of Alexandra Louison of France, who pipped Ferguson by four seconds at the line for second place.

Keat, the 2007 Ironman Australia champion and Australian long course champion, took second to two-time Ironman Hawaii sensation Chrissie Wellington at the 2009 edition of Ironman Australia this April.

Challenge Niederbronn-les-Bains
Niederbronn-les-Bains France
June 7, 2009
S 1.2 mi/ B 56 mi/ R 13.1 mi.

Results

Men

1. Chris McCormack (AUS) 3:50:48
2. Olivier Marceau (SUI) 3:53:47
3. Raynard Tissink (RSA0 3:56:29
4. James Cunnama (RSA) 3:59:54
5. Maik Twelsiek (GER) 4:00:56
6. Xavier LeFloch (FRA) 4:05:19
7. Damian Favre-Felix (FRA) 4:05:56
8. Damien Landon (FRA) 4:08:37
9. Patrick Bringer (FRA) 4:08:41
10. Thierry Verbinnen (BEL) 4:10:30
15. Ralf Eggert (GER) 4:22:02

Women

1. Rebekah Keat (AUS) 4:27:12
2. Alexandra Louison (FRA) 4:34:37
3. Gina Ferguson (NZL) 4:34:41
4. Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) 4:36:49
5. Nicole Best (GER) 4:46:22
6. Sophie de Groote (BEL) 4:48:16
7. Christine Waitz (GER) 4:49:42
8. Hillary Biscay (USA) 4:52:09
9. Coralie Lemaire (FRA) 4:53:12
10. Dagmar Matthes (GER) 4:55:38