Matthews Breaks Course Record at Ironman New Zealand
TDT | Manama
Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com
Britain’s Kat Matthews made a stunning start to her Ironman Pro Series title defence at Ironman New Zealand, setting a new women’s course record of 8:28:55 and finishing nearly seven minutes ahead of the field.
The 13-time Bahrain Victorious athlete arrived in Taupo with a clear goal: secure the maximum 5,000 Pro Series points. After emerging from the 3.8km swim in Lake Taupo two minutes behind the leaders, Matthews quickly began to make her mark on the 180km bike leg. By 35km, she had joined the lead trio alongside Hannah Berry and Lotte Wilms, steadily distancing themselves from the rest of the field.
Crossing into T2 just six seconds behind Berry, Matthews unleashed her strength on the marathon. Within the first five kilometres, she had already opened a one-minute gap, which expanded to over four minutes by the halfway point. Maintaining a sub-3:00 marathon pace, she continued to extend her lead, eventually crossing the line in a course-best 2:51:48, shattering Chelsea Sodaro’s previous record of 8:40:07.
“This went to plan,” Matthews said. “Even though it looks controlled, you have to work hard throughout, and I had so much empathy for everyone tackling that marathon. The community here is incredible – it really lifts you.”
Berry delighted the home crowd with a second-place finish in 8:35:43, also beating the previous course record, while Wilms of the Netherlands fended off Canada’s Tamara Jewett to claim third in 8:39:57. Jewett recorded the fastest run split of the day at 2:42:40, overtaking several competitors in the closing kilometres. Completing the top five, the United States’ Danielle Lewis finished in 8:49:35, rounding out a competitive field.
Matthews’ triumph sets the tone for her third consecutive Pro Series title and reinforces her status as one of the sport’s most complete triathletes. By finishing nearly seven minutes ahead of her rivals, she demonstrated why she remains a benchmark for excellence in long-distance racing.
The top five finishers also secured qualifying slots for the 2026 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i, adding further weight to their achievements over the week.
Final top five:
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Kat Matthews (GBR) – 8:28:55
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Hannah Berry (NZL) – 8:35:43
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Lotte Wilms (NED) – 8:39:57
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Tamara Jewett (CAN) – 8:41:20
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Danielle Lewis (USA) – 8:49:35
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