2-TIME
IRONMAN AUSTRALIA CHAMPION- CHRIS MCCORMACK
2003 IRONMAN AUSTRALIA
As it came
across live on the Internet…
FIFTEEN MINUTES AND COUNTING DOWN NOW
Boy Oh! Boy! The swimmers are making their way into the water still. Forster
Keys is buzzing with sound, music, commentary and some 1500 plus very
excited athletes... The 2003 Snap Printing Ironman Australian Triathlon
is just 15 minutes from the start gun!
00:00
IRONMAN OZ HAS STARTED
BOOM! The start was amazing as 1526 swimmers hit the water under instruction
from Mike Reilly
00:05
VAN WISSE
LEADS
One kilometer into the swim and John Van Wisse leads Chris McCormack,
Chippy Slater and Luke Bell...
00:08
JACOBSON
Young Sydney swimmer, Peter Jacobson has forged to the lead of the swim
with the pack containing both Chris McCormack and Jason Shortis!
00:26
THE EVERCHANGING SWIM
Coming up on the 40 minute mark and young Pete Jacobs leads the swim by
10 meters from a line of swimmers that includes John van Wisse, Chris
McCormack, Jason Metters, Peter Murray, Chippy Slater and Luke Bell.
00:37
HOW THEY FINISHED
Pete Jacobs won the swim in a strong 46:05 from John Van Wisse, 46:34
and then Blyth Hartnett 46:40, Peter Murray 46:46, Chris McCormack 46:48,
Jason Metters then Luke Bell on 46:50 from Chippy Slater.
00:47
Top Ten Swim Splits:
1) Pete Jacobs 46:04 Australia
2) John Van Wisse 46:33 Australia
3) Blyth Hartnett 46:39 Australia
4) Peter Murray 46:45 Australia
5) Chris McCormack 46:48 Australia
6) Luke Bell 46:51 Australia
7) Jason Metters 46:52 Australia
8) Chippy Slater 47:06 Australia
9) Alan Bentley 47:43 Australia
10) Peter Valentyik 47:52 USA
UP THE ROAD AWAYS
The leaders are sorting themselves out with McCormack, Metters, Van Wisse,
Hartnett and Luke Bell all pressing their claims for the lead right now....
00:56
9km INTO THE BIKE
Chris McCormack has quickly ridden into the lead at the 9km mark and has
35 seconds on Luke Bell now with another 10 seconds back to Jason Metters.
01:05
HOW ABOUT THAT!
At nine kilometers into the race, Chris McCormack had put 3:25 into the
swim winner, Pete Jacobs!
01:12
MACCA LEADS 30km INTO BIKE LEG
Chris McCormack leads the race by just eight seconds from young Luke Bell,
the pair now drawing away from Jason Metters. The conditions to are constantly
changing as rain showers continue to sweep the area.
01:41
THE MEN'S TOP FIVE AT 36KM
Chris McCormack leads by 33 seconds into Coomba Park Road with Luke Bell
in second still but third placed Jason Metters is under heavy fire from
veteran, Stefan Kolm and Jason Shortis, now into the top five and going
hard!
01:59
MACCA HAS GONE AWAY AT THE 50 KAY MARK!
Chris McCormack has just done a disappearing act on the field and is now
way in front! The defending champion is now one and a half minutes in
front of Luke Bell, but an incredible 5:24 in front of Jason Shortis now
in third. Courtney Ogden, Stefan Kolm and Patrick Vernay of France follow.
02:12
MACCA AT 63kms
Chris McCormack is certainly stamping his authority on the race with a
growing lead as the bike head to the half waypoint. Behind him the field
is bunching though and some talk between the competitors and their times
seems to indicate a group is forming. Luke Bell is still hanging tough
in no man's land in second, then Jason Shortis has ridden through the
pack for third place while Jason Metters, Courtney Ogden, Stefan Kolm,
Patrick Vernay and Brad White are all packed together.
02:37
MACCA GOING HARDER
Chris McCormack is just about five kilometers from the first lap through
Forster and the crowd is going off!!! He's a popular figure on course
and the announcers are really building the atmosphere at the Head Street
Roundabout, the Hot Corner of the Ironman Australia course.
02:45
INTO TOWN THEY COME
Macca leads now with five minutes on Luke Bell. The pack is another three
minutes back and the pack seems to be growing - now comprising seven riders!!
Leading is Stefan Kolm, then Jason Metters, Jason Shortis, Courtney Ogden,
Patrick Vernay, Matt White and Brad White.
03:06
TROUBLE?
Luke Bell came into the Head Street roundabout down 6:15 on Macca. Japanese
competitor Yuji Adachi left his bike shoes in his hotel but has pressed
on regardless and is riding in the top 50 in bare feet!
03:13
MCCORMACK COMMANDS THE RACE
At the 110Km mark, Chris McCormack has an 11:48 lead over Luke Bell, now
under pressure from Jason Shortis. The group is still riding as a pack
with Patrick Vernay, Stefan Kolm, Jason Metters, Courtney Ogden and Matt
White.
03:45
THE MEN'S RACE SETTLES
With Macca now over eight minutes in the lead, Luke Bell is hanging tough
two and a half minutes ahead of Jason Shortis and then the pack around
a minute back... there's some sharing of responsibilities going on there.
The order changes at each check point!
04:07
STATUS QUO
We've reached that part of the race where the passing has ceased for a
time; the leaders are digging to consolidate their lead and the chasing
groups are planning a new strategy as the kilometers run out on the bike.
Chris McCormack is the race leader. McCormack has ridden away from all
his pursuers.
04:17
SO WHERE ARE WE AT?
Chris McCormack continues to push out his lead, and a big laugh when told
his lead at the Coomba Park out turn.
04:44
MACCA LEADS
WITH ONLY 30 KMS TO GO
Chris McCormack leads a gallant Luke Bell by 13:05 with less than thirty
kilometers to go. Jason Shortis is just 1:50 further back and the pack
is 25 seconds back.
05:12
MACCA LEADS INTO T2
Forster is cheering, stamping its collective feet, shouting and generally
getting rather excited as Chris McCormack heads through T2 en route to
the Asics Marathon! He has a commanding lead and he's smiling!
05:15
Top Ten Bike Splits:
1) Chris McCormack Australia 4:38:18
2) Jason Shortis Australia 4:49:44
3) Luke Bell Australia 4:52:03
4) Matt White Australia 4:52:47
5) Courtney Ogden Australia 4:53:31
6) Stefan Kolm Australia 4:54:27
7) Jason Metters Australia 4:55:57
8) Patrick Vernay France 4:56:25
9) Allan Jefferson Australia 4:56:45
10) Paul Patrick Australia 4:58:25
MACCA'S RUN
Chris McCormack covered the first five kilometers of the marathon in a
cruising, but not resting 19:25 minutes.
05:44
THE SPLIT OFF THE BIKE
After the dynamic bike finish of Chris McCormack there was a 14:02 gap
to Luke Bell, then Jason Shortis at 15:39 from the lead with Courtney
Odgen down 17:26, Lance Mazlay (USA) 17:26 back as well then Jason Metters,
17:50 back.
05:50
ONE SIXTH OF THE WAY
At the 7km mark of the Asics Marathon, Chris McCormack has lost ground
to Luke Bell! The plucky Victorian has gained a minute but trails by 12:28,
two minutes clear of Jason Shortis, who was three minutes Matt White and
Jason Metters. However, Macca looks very at ease with his leading position
and 12 and a half minutes is a very handy lead!
06:10
NOW IT'S GETTING INTERESTING
Chris McCormack may be taking no changes with the marathon but he is allowing
Luke Bell to erode his lead rather quickly with the youngster making up
three minutes in the first ten kilometers. There's still a long way to
go, and there's still a big gap of over ten minutes however!
06:17
OH! BOY - CAN MACCA MAKE IT?
We've told you that Luke Bell has been making giant inroads into the Chris
McCormack's lead and now comes news that the leader doesn't look so good!
Certainly his run is becoming awkward and he doesn't look comfortable.
And if Luke Bell feels better, then spare a thought for Jason Shortis
who can see both runners and is making giant steps towards them! Shortis
looks to be the fastest runner in the front-runners right now.
06:31
CAT AN MOUSE IN THE RAIN
The race is proving interesting in Australia as the chase group hunt down
Chris McCormack. There's conjecture if he's going easy or just looks tired?
Luke Bell has been doggedly chasing down the leader but is still nine
minutes back and under threat from Jason Shortis.
While the
eyes of the media are on the race out front, there are 1500 competitors
still out there in rainy and cold conditions.
07:12
SHORTIS INTO SECOND
Jason Shortis has surged on Luke Bell to wrest second place from the youngster
at the 29 km mark! He's looking good and he's looking on going on with
the job and is now chasing Chris McCormack!
07:32
MACCA STILL LEADS - TOP FIVE UPDATE
Well into the second lap McCormack still leads Jason Shortis by nine minutes
with Luke Bell losing just a little ground then a gap to Jason Metters
now under attack by South Australia's Matt Stephens! SO the race is ever
changing!
07:50
TURNING FOR HOME NOW
Chris McCormack is running four-minute k’s and has just five kilometers
to run. He's on pace for an 8:15 time, just nine minutes outside the record
- but let's not get to carried away - there are still five kilometers
for the defending champ to cover!
07:57
MACCA IS NEARLY THERE
Chris McCormack has stormed through the 39km mark - just three K from
home!
08:00
OH SO CLOSE NOW!
Cool the champagne… the defending champ is about to become the repeat
champ, with McCormack upping the pace as he nears the finish line now
within the next few minutes.
08:09
MACCA IS COMING HOME!
Aussie Chris McCormack is heading home and there's still seven hours remaining
in the race! There's a tired smile on his face, but Macca has pretty-much
completed task one for the day… to get to the finish line first!
The crowd is getting rowdy, and they're armed with clappers - the noise is deafening! We're looking up North Street for the first sign of No#1 and here he comes!!! Mike Reilly has ACDC turned up LOUD - they're playing TNT, Ironman load! And Macca has taken the race, improving his time by six minutes over last year! 08:13
Top Ten Run Splits:
1) Jason Shortis Australia 2:46:50
2) Luke Bell Australia 2:49:57
3) Matt Stephens Australia 2:51:11
4) David Meade Australia 2:51:33
5) Chris McCormack Australia 2:51:39
6) Nick Saunders Australia 2:54:55
7) Paul Patrick Australia 2:55:30
8) Sean Foster Australia 2:55:31
9) Bevan Nicholson Australia 2:57:46
10) Jason Metters Australia 2:57:50
“NOTHING
BEAT THIS. NOTHING!”
Those words came from Chris McCormack as he breathlessly talked with Mike
Reilly on the finish line of the 2003 Ironman Australian Triathlon. "I
was running scared for much of the marathon" he told the crowd, "Jason
Shortis ran so hard but I felt great!"
He turned to the crowd, "Thank you so, so much for your support,"
he told them. "These Ironman races are just the greatest things in
the world! Nothing beats this, NOTHING!”
08:20
Top Ten Over-All:
1) Chris McCormack Australia 8:19:15
2) Jason Shortis Australia 8:30:05
3) Luke Bell Australia 8:31:23
4) Jason Metters Australia 8:42:57
5) Matt Stephens Australia 8:45:33
6) Matt White Australia 8:47:47
7) Patrick Vernay France 8:48:07
8) Sean Foster Australia 8:49:12
9) David Meade Australia 8:50:41
10) Paul Patrick Australia 8:52:51
Chris’s Personal Splits:
2.4 Mile Swim 46:48
112 Mile Bike 4:38:18
26.2 Mile Run 2:51:39
------------------------------------
Total Time 8:19:15
The Two-Time and Reigning Ironman Australia Champion
– Chris McCormack