Ironman World Championship runner-up Pete Jacobs and fellow Australian Sarah Crowley took the men’s and women’s titles at Ironman 70.3 Cairns on Sunday.

Jacobs combined a 3rd-fastest 23:56 swim, a dominating, race-best 2:11:50 cycle leg and an equally superior 1:15:19 run to hit the tape in 3:55:51 with a 12 minutes 58 seconds margin of victory over runner-up Luke McKenzie and a 12:58 margin over 3rd place overall and men’s 30-34 age group winner Peter Loveridge in an all-Australian top 10.

Crowley had a 6th-fastest 29:48 swim, 2nd-best 2:22:56 bike leg, and a race-best 1:25:42 half marathon to finish in 4:23:27 with a 6:33 margin over runner-up Michelle Wu and 6:48 over 3rd place finisher Jo Lawn of New Zealand.

Ruth Corset had the fastest bike -- a dazzling 2:17:50 – but her 34:32 swim and 1:46:24 dropped her to 8th overall. Jacqui Waters posted a race-fastest 26:43 swim while finishing 14th.

Ironman 70.3 Cairns
Cairns, Australia
June 3, 2012
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.

Results

Men

1. Pete Jacobs (AUS) 3:55:51
2. Luke McKenzie (AUS) 4:08:01
3. Peter Loveridge (AUS) 4:08:49 * M30-34
4. Josh Rix (AUS) 4:09:34
5. Sam Appleton (AUS) 4:10:12
6. Matt Burton (AUS) 4:10:13
7. Michael Prince (AUS) 4:10:58
8. Matthew Bailey (AUS) 4:13:51
9. Adam Gordon (AUS) 4:15:05
10. Hayden Armstrong (AUS) 4:15:19

Women

1. Sarah Crowley (AUS) 4:23:27
2. Michelle Wu (AUS) 4:30:00
3. Jo Lawn (NZL) 4:30:15
4. Matilda Raynolds (AUS) 4:34:56
5. Jacinta Worland (AUS) 4:36:06
6. Margo Mackintosh (AUS) 4:39:04
7. Janine Willis (AUS) 4:42:34
8. Ruth Corset (AUS) 4:46:50
9. Julie Uebel (AUS) 4:48:21
10. Susan Langley (AUS) 4:49:11