Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle has claimed an impressive third place finish at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Taupō, New Zealand, running her way onto the podium on Saturday.
Gentle lined up for her first IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, crossing the line in 4:03:01, behind America’s Taylor Knibb who won her third consecutive World Championship title in 3:57:34, with Great Britain’s Kat Matthews second.
The world’s top female professionals took to Lake Taupō on Saturday morning for the 1.9km swim, with Gentle 17th out of the water, 44 seconds off the lead. Once onto the bike she started chipping away at the deficit, working her way up to eighth at the end of the 90km. It was on the run where Gentle’s class shone through, with the two-time Olympian charging through the field to finish third.
“I’m pretty relieved, I didn’t really know how that was going to pan out but I’m really proud with how I held it together until mid-December this year, to come away with a podium is just the icing on the cake,” Gentle said.
“The swim was interesting, it was really hard to see where to go because the sun was rising but I just tried to find some feet and hold on and just tried to hammer the transition and the first part of the bike, which was really of difficult.
“I burnt a few matches early but just tried to settle in once I got on the bike, it was an interest dynamic, I was in a bit of a group and tried to stay out of the draft zone, so it was a bit on and off for the whole bike, especially the last part. I got off onto the run and felt pretty but when I first started running but I’m really happy that I found my rhythm, I had a ridiculous amount of support out there, so many Aussies and Kiwis, everyone in general was giving me so much support, I really felt that and it really lifted me to the finish.
“I was really unsure how I was going to go, I’ve emptied the tank so many times this year so it could have been hit and miss, it was really difficult but I’m proud that I got the best out of myself, that was all I had to give today so I really can’t ask for much more.
Fellow Australian Ellie Salthouse had her best IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship result, finishing seventh in 4:07:48.
The Brisbane triathlete found herself on the backfoot early, finishing the swim in 22nd position, a minute and a half off the lead. Salthouse worked her way up to 13th over the 90km bike leg, before a very strong run got her up to seventh by the finish line.
“I’m feeling really good after that, it was my best ever World Championship finish so I’ve got to be happy with that,” Salthouse said.
“I made it hard for myself, we went off course on the swim and I missed the front group which is unusual for me so I was coming from behind all day.
“At kilometre 75 I made touch with the front group, the main group, and then I just yo-yo’d off the back unfortunately, I came in about a minute and a half down which was a little disappointing but I had the run of my life so I’m pretty stoked with that. To run myself from 13th into seventh I have to be happy, especially this late in the year.”
Salthouse was pleased with her results at the end of a long year, which included IRONMAN 70.3 wins in Australia and the United States of America.
“Everything has been going, really, really well, I’ve had 12 good weeks of running training, and consistent training since my hamstring tear so I’m really happy with how it’s progressing and it’s all looking good for next year if I can just keep things injury free, get rested and get back into it March,” Salthouse said.
“I’m so looking forward to two weeks off celebrating Christmas with the family, some beverages, some beach time and some family time.”
Melbourne’s Grace Thek also recorded her best ever IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship finish, coming home in tenth.
On Sunday, Belgium’s Jelle Geens won the men’s World Championship in Taupō, New Zealand, with a time of 3:32:09. New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde finished second, 1:06 behind Geens, while France’s Leo Bergere claimed third place.
Melbourne’s Mitch Kibby was the top Australian finisher, placing 23rd in 3:47:18. Josh Amberger followed in 24th, with Kurt McDonald finishing 25th in his World Championship debut, completing the course in 3:48:32. Caleb Noble placed 27th, while Nicholas Free and Calvin Amos finished 37th and 39th, respectively.
For more information about the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event, please visit www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship.
