Australian Luke McKenzie won it on the swim and the USA’s Amy Marsh did it on the bike to take the men’s and women’s overall titles at the second Ironman China Sunday.

McKenzie’s 45:45 swim opened a decisive 12:14 margin over Hungary’s Jozsef Major, then gave back just 1:26 with a 4:37:50 bike and 49 seconds with a 3:14:17 run to hit the line with a race-record 8:41:15 time and an 11-minutes 14–seconds margin of victory.

McKenzie’s win came two weeks after his DNF at Ironman Malaysia. The Australian topped 2009 winner Rasmus Henning’s 8:53:20 finish achieved in much hotter temperatures – 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

"My main focus for the early season was my defense of Ironman Malaysia two weeks ago. Unfortunately I had an upset stomach and the continual vomiting and dehydration forced me out of the race. I knew I was in good shape and wanted to utilize my fitness so I decided to line up at Ironman China for a 'second chance'," said McKenzie. "I was so happy to see that finish line. Unfortunately within a few minutes once the adrenaline wore off I started to go downhill and ultimately ended up on an IV drip! I was extremely happy to win my fourth and what I regard as my toughest Ironman title."

Marsh’s 55:17 swim gave her a 1-minute 22-seconds lead over Germany’s Nicole Leder. Then Marsh put on the afterburners with a sizzling 5:10:25 bike that gave her a 32:18 lead entering the marathon. Marsh’s 3:42:43 was thus enough to hold off Leder’s race best 3:13:28 run to finish in 9:52:45 and a 10 minute 13 seconds margin of victory.

Marsh’s winning time fell short of 2009 winner Charlotte Paul’s race record of 9:48:14, which placed Paul 4th overall including the men in the tortuous 2009 heat wave.

Ironman China
March 14, 2010
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.

Results

Men

1. Luke McKenzie (AUS) 8:41:15
2. Jozsef Major (HUN) 8:52:29
3. Jens Groenbek (DEN) 9:17:06
4. Shingo Tani (JPN) 9:19:01
5. Mike Schifferle (SUI) 9:30:16
6. Eneko Elosegui (ESP) 9:30:16
7. Justin Granger (AUS) 9:41:45
8. Hiroyuki Nishiuchi (JPN) 9:43:57
9. Brandon Marsh (USA) 9:52:00
10. David Bentley (AUS) 9:52:51 * M30-34

Women

1. Amy Marsh (USA) 9:52:45
2. Nicole Leder (GER) 10:02:58
3. Heidi Jesberger (GER 10:08:52
4. Maki Nishiuchi (JPN) 10:21:52
5. Shiao Yu Li (TWN) 10:48:26