Busselton recently played host to both the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 event and local triathlete’s from the Busselton Triathlon Club came away with some excellent results including taking out the Division 4 Club Championship.
Local Triathlete Buck Cockman has secured his ticket to the highly exclusive Ironman World Championships to be held in Kona, Hawaii in October. An Ironman event requires you to complete a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km marathon.
Buck qualified after completing the recent Busselton Ironman finishing in a blistering time of 9hrs 43 mins and 24 seconds to finish eighth in a highly competitive age group. This will be Buck’s first trip to the big island.
“It’s been a dream that’s become reality securing a spot in the Ironman world championships in Kona and I’m looking forward to the challenges this race will bring,” Buck said.
Busselton Triathlon Club and Tuffnup Tri coach Mick Bray said: “Buck is a dedicated athlete and a dream to coach. The best thing is Buck never got caught up in the Kona dream, just focusing on doing the best he could. His dedication and consistency has earned him the well-deserved spot to race against the best in Kona”.
The Ironman 70.3 was also held the same day as the Ironman which requires you to complete a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.2km half marathon. Trish Vickery and Hannah Jackson secured spots to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships to be held in Nice, France in September.
Trish Vickery qualifies after completing her race in 5hrs, 28mins and 07secs wining her age group.
This will be the fifth time Trish will race at the 70.3 world championships.
“I am very happy to have qualified once again for the World Championships. After managing an injury and doing shorter distances this year, to race once more in the 70.3 distance and win my age group was such a great feeling,” Trish said.
Hannah Jackson qualified after completing the race in 4hrs 45mins and 25secs finishing fourth in her age group. This was Hannah’s second half ironman event.
“When I signed up 12 weeks prior to the event, finishing was the goal. But to cross the line in fourth place with a 47-minute personal best was pretty unbelievable,” Hannah said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing against the best in the world in September in Paris, Nice”.
Local triathlete Chloe Mackenzie finished second in her age but chose not to take her spot for the world championships and focus on her university studies.
International athlete and Busselton club member Steffi Steinberg won her age group in a time of 4hrs 55mins and 27secs but has already qualified for the world championships in Nice at a previous race.
