Thommo's four year turnaround
Wednesday, 13 August 2008 23:24
This time four years ago, we saw a very different Simon Thompson in Athens preparing for the Olympic Games, with a spot on the highly-rated Australian Team. The man we know as 'Thommo' didn't have the perfect day, with two crashes on the steep and technical Athens course. His run split (one of the fastest) told the story of a man in form but after those two crashes his day was done and dusted. Last weekend though his thoughts were on different things, as he took out the 5430 Half Ironman in Boulder, Colorado.
The 5340 field was a good one, with some pretty handy professionals lining up. And the setting (Boulder) was familiar for many of the competing athletes, with so many of them spending their days training over the course. But it was Australia's Thompson who made the race his own. Thompson's run - 1:11:59 at 5,430 feet altitude on dirt - was amazing ... about 4:52 for his first mile out of T2! Now that's seriously moving. The women's race was owned by Joanna Zeiger who cruised in with 4 minutes to spare.
Men's race
- Simon Thompson 3.50.43
- Tim O'Donnell 3.51.16
- Brian Fleischmann 3.52.02
- Paul Matthews 3.53.48
- Joe Gambles 3.56.12
Women's race
- Joanna Zeiger 4.18.07
- Fiona Docherty 4.22.05
- Angela Naeth 4.27.21
- Katherine Baker 4.28.26
- Heather Gollnick 4.32.38
