Normann Stadler and Michellie Jones are Ironman Champions : trifuel.com

Normann Stadler and Michellie Jones are Ironman Champions

Source: Editor

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii - Germany's Normann Stadler not only crossed the finish line in first today with a time of 8:11:56 at the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship, but also broke a new bike course record. The current bike course record of 4:21:36, held by Torbjorne Sindballe, was broken today with Stadler's new bike course record of 4:18:23. Michellie Jones also celebrated a victory today as the first female Australian to claim an Ironman World Championship title. Jones crossed with a finish time of 9:18:31.

Stadler also holds a 2004 Ironman World Championship title and while he did not exit the water in the lead pack today, he held onto a very strong lead throughout the bike and run portions. Stadler led an impressive men's field today comprised of athletes such as Chris Lieto, Chris McCormack, Faris Al-Sultan, Luke Bell and multiple Ironman New Zealand winner, Cameron Brown. Chris McCormack followed up last year's sixth place finish today with a time of 8:13:07, the third closest finish in Ironman history. Al-Sultan, today's third place finisher and last year's champion, crossed today at 8:19:04 with Rutger Beke finishing consecutively in fourth place with a time of 8:21:04. In fifth place today with a time of 8:22:28, was former long-distance world champion from Spain, Eneko Llanos.

Jones, well-known for her Olympic achievements, now has an Ironman World Title to add to her growing race resume. Jones led a determined group of females today including Joanna Zeiger, Desiree Ficker, Lisa Bentley, Kate Major, Kate Allen and Gina Kehr. Following behind Jones' dominating lead in second place was an Ironman athlete who has seen great racing success this season, Desiree Ficker. After an ecstatic Ficker crossed the line at 9:24:02, Canadian Lisa Bentley, who has 10 international Ironman wins to her credit, celebrated her best Kona finish and placed third with a time of 9:25:18. In fourth today was Gina Kehr with a time of 9:27:24, and last year's fifth place finisher and defending Olympic champion, Kate Allen, rounded out the women's top five again with a time of 9:30:22.

Nearly 1,700 athletes lined up today to test their mental and physical limits at the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship. Live coverage of the 17-hour event is still available at www.ironman.com. The Emmy-award winning broadcast of the Ford Ironman World Championship will air once again on NBC on Saturday, December 9, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. EST.