All photos by Timothy Carlson
On a day at the Ironman North America Championship in Texas in which 11 men broke 8 hours and at least 10 women broke 9 hours, Matt Hanson of the U.S. topped Tim Don’s year-old Ironman brand world best mark with a 7:39:25 clocking which edged top rival Ivan Tutukin of Russia by 32 seconds.
Women’s winner Melissa Hauschildt finished in 8:31:05, which broke the previously acknowledged fastest women’s Ironman brand time set by Chrissie Wellington at the 2011 edition of Ironman South Africa by 2:52 and gave Hauschildt an 11:11 margin of victory over runner-up Jodie Robertson of the U.S.
Men
Hanson combined a middling 52:30 swim in the canals of The Woodlands, a fourth best 4:07:22 bike split, and an Ironman brand world best marathon split of 2:34:39 to take his third Ironman North America victory at The Woodlands.
Once Hanson and Ivan Tutukin disposed of bike leader Andrew Starykowicz at the 18-mile mark of the run, the American and the Russian fought a fierce, elbow to elbow duel on the run until Hanson broke away with 800 meters to go for the victory.
Joining the record-bending party, Andrew Starykowicz of the U.S. broke the old Ironman brand bike split record with a 3:54:59 clocking. After his domination on the bike, Starykowicz led out of T2 by more than 10 minutes and did not surrender until the 18th mile of the run whereupon he fell to 8th place with 3:00:57 time.
After Hanson, 10 men joined the sub-8-hour speed fest, including, in order: Ivan Tutukin (7:39:57), Will Clarke (7:45:22), Tim Van Berkel (7:47:43), Jan Van Berkel (7:48:40), Brent McMahon (7:49:49), Ruedi Wild (7:50:19), Starykowicz), (7:50:56), Frederik Van Lierde (7:53:43), Johan Ackermann (7:57:02) and Jeremy Jurkiewicz (7:58:45).
Women
On the same, day, under clear blue skies and no wind, Hauschildt combined a 59:07 swim which left her about 10 minutes back of swim leader Lauren Brandon, a women’s 4th-best 4:29:55 bike split and a women’s-best 2:57:06 run to earn the $30,000 top prize.
Trailing Hauschildt was a record number of sub-9-hour women including, in order: Robertson (8:42:15), Leslie Smith (8:43:51), Michelle Vesterby (8:45:47), Sara Svensk (8:46:48), Meredith Kessler, five months after the birth of a child, (8:47:43), Jen Annett (8:49:26), Kimberly Morrison (8:50:59), Tine Decker (8:57:33) and Darbi Roberts (8:59:03).
Short course controversy
While the times were incredibly fast, complaints by competitors and comparisons with previous times strongly suggest that this year’s bike and run courses were significantly shorter than the standard 112 and 26.2 miles for an Ironman race.
At the 2017 edition of the Ironman North America Championship, Hanson won in a time of 7:52:44. In 2018, Hanson finished in 2:39:25 - a 13 minutes and 19 seconds improvement. In 2018, 11 pros broke 8 hours, 7 men broke 7:50 and two broke 7:40. In 2017, only five men broke 8 hours and no one broke 7:50.
Hanson’s 4:07:27 bike split in 2018 was 6:26 faster than his split in 2017. Hanson’s 2018 run split of 2:34:39 was 7:28 faster than his 2017 effort. These differences were mirrored across the board.
Perhaps the most glaring discrepancy could be found in the men’s 45-49 category – which could be exhibit A in support of complaints that some age group competitors in the large field may have been drafting (or enjoying a drafting effect due to the crowded course) on the two loop section on the Hardy Toll Road.
This year Ulrich Konschak of Germany won in 8:40:01. Last year John Hessian won the category in a time of 9:24:10 – a 44 minutes difference. This year, nine 45-49 men broke 9 hours. Last year no one came close.
Comparing 45-49 bike splits, Konschak posted a 4:32:33 mark this year, 17 minutes faster than Hessian’s 2017 split. This year, Konschak’s run split was 2:58:54, 13:30 better than Hessian’s 2017 mark.
Ironman stated that because of differences in course distance, they no longer validate any Ironman performance as a “world record.” They also stated that the Ironman North America Championship course had been shortened from the previous year.
In a statement dated Saturday at 2:53 PM, Ironman wrote: "Earlier this morning, IRONMAN made the decision to cut a portion of the bike course reducing the distance from the standard 112 miles to approximately 110 miles. The decision was made in the interest of athlete safety. Because of the shortened distance, no course records will be recognized."
In response on social media , 7th place women's finisher Jen Annett wrote: "This is total BS, as the course was short last year as well. If you "know" that the course is short, this should be explained prior to the race start, stating that "no records will be recognized." However, this was not the case and as someone who now hold(s) an "unrecognized world record" am extremely upset about this, as are many other athletes both professional and age group. I will also like to bring up the fact that last year the male Ironman bike record was broken and recognized , even tho the course was short."
Prior to the race, Ironman did not specify by how much the bike course was shortened. In contrast to this year, in 2016, the Ironman North America Championship bike course was shortened by 18 miles {and announced prior to the race] and the overall winning race time of 7:19 was obviously not close to a mark set at the Ironman official standard distance.
However, because his splits and overall time fell within normal parameters, Tim Don’s 7:40 time at Ironman Brazil last year was widely recognized as an Ironman brand world best mark.
Ironman North America Championship
The Woodlands, Texas
April 28, 2018
S 2.4 mi. B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Results
Men
1. Matt Hanson (USA) S 52:30 B 4:07:27 R 2:34:40 TOT 7:39:35
2. Ivan Tutukin (RUS) S 49:30 B 4:10:22 R 2:35:20 TOT 7:39:57
3. Will Clarke (GBR) S 49:49 B 4:09:58 R 2:40:4 TOT 7:45:22
4. Tim Van Berkel (AUS) S 54:55 B N/A R 2:52:00 TOT 7:47:43
5. Jan Van Berkel (SUI) S 49:28 B 4:10:14 R 2:44:17 TOT 7:48:40
6. Brent McMahon (CAN) S 49:25 B 4:10:27 R 2:44:17 TOT 7:48:40'
7. Ruedi Wild (SUI) S 49:22 B 4:10:22 R 2:45:00 TOT 7:50:19
8. Andrew Starykowicz (USA) S 49:23 B 3:54:59 R 3:00:57 TOT 7:50:56
9. Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) S 49:25 B 4:10:30 R 2:48:43 TOT 7:53:43
10. Johan Ackermann (GER) S 49:15 B 4:03:19 R 2:59:38 TOT 7:57:02
11. Jeremy Jurkiewicz (FRA) 7:58:45
Women
1. Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) S 59:07 B 4:29:55 R 2:57:067 TOT 8:31:04
2. Jodie Robertson (USA) S 1:00:41 B 4:27:31 R 3:08:52 TOT 8:42:15
3. Lesley Smith (USA) S 57:49 B 4:39:56 R 2:58:28 TOT 8:43:51
4. Michelle Vesterby (DNK) S 56:05B 4:33:11 R 3:11:21 TOT 8:45:47
5. Sara Svensk (SWE) S 59:32 B 4:32:34 R 3:9:53 TOT 8:46:48
6. Meredith Kessler (USA) S 53:6 B 4:34:33 R 3:13:27 TOT 8:47:43
7. Jen Annett (CAN) S 1:02:22 B 4:25:11 R 3:16:52 TOT 8:49:26
8. Kimberly Morrison (GBR) S 56:23 B 4:27:48 R 3:21:51 TOT 8:50:59
9. Tine Decker (BEL) S 59:28 B 4:35:01 R 3:17:18 TOT 8:57:33
10. Darbi Roberts (UA) S 56:18 B 4:41:32 R 3:15:27 TOT 8:59:03
