Patrick Vernay used a race-best marathon to win his second straight Panthers Ironman Australia, while Chrissie Wellington of Great Britain outdueled home-country favorite Kate Major on the run to take her first Ironman victory after her shocking upset win at Ironman Hawaii last October.

Vernay broke free of a race-long duel with Australia’s Mitch Anderson with a brilliant 2:51:59 marathon while Anderson was struggling to a closing 3:05 run. Vernay of New Caledonia was one of only two competitors to crack the three-hour marathon mark -- Port Macquiarie's Tim Berkel was the other - on his way to an 8:31:33 finishing time and an eight-minute, 46-second margin of victory.

Any speculation that Wellington was a one hit wonder should be dashed after her 9:03:55 performance Sunday at the Panthers Ironman Australia in Port Macquairie. Facing strong opposition from the three-time Ironman Hawaii third-place finisher, Wellington pitted a 53:27 swim against Major’s 54:00, starting the bike 30 seconds ahead of her Queensland rival. During the bike, Wellington dropped to 2 minutes behind Major at Mile 37 before getting fired up and finishing with a 5:06:43 bike against Major’s 5:07:27. Starting the run with a 1 minute 20 seconds lead, Wellington closed the door with a 3:01:53 for the 26.2-miles, the third-fastest run of the day -- man or woman. Major fought hard all the way, but lost four more minutes on the run to cross the line five minutes, 17 seconds behind Wellington.

Wellington’s 9:03:55 finish on a tough day beat all but eight men and obliterated the Port Macquairie course record set by Rebekah Keat last year by nine minutes, five seconds. By contrast, Vernay’s 8:31:33 finish was nine minutes, 43 seconds slower than his 2007 winning time under better conditions.

Wellington was eight minutes 47 seconds off Lori Bowden’s 2000 Ironman Australia race record of 8:55:08, set at the former race site in Forster-Tuncurry.

The Ironman Australia victory in world-class time marks Wellington’s third straight Ironman victory in as many tries. She won in her maiden attempt at the distance in Ironman Korea last August. If she wins her planned attempt at Ironman Germany in July, Wellington would have an amazing first-year Ironman record of four wins.

Panthers Ironman Australia Triathlon
Port Macquairie, Australia
April 6, 2008
2.4 mi S/112mi B/26.2mi R

Overall women

1. Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 9:03:55
2. Kate Major (AUS) 9:09:12
3. Melinda Cockshutt (AUS) 9:50:02
4. Prue Oswin (AUS) 10:00:11
5. Sarah Pollett (AUS) 10:00:12
6. Alison Coyle (AUS) 10:00:49
7. Joanne Bennett (AUS) 10:05:37
8. Amelia Pearson (AUS) 10:10:45
9. Emma Weitnauer (AUS) 10:20:42
10. Kirsten Molloy (AUS) 10:23:17

Overall men
1. Patrick Vernay (NCD) 8:31:33
2. Mitchell Anderson (AUS) 8:40:19
3. Matthias Hecht (SUI) 8:42:48
4. Tim Berkel (AUS) 8:44:20
5. Luke McKenzie (AUS) 8:46:01
6. Luke Bell (AUS) 8:56:17
7. Matt White (AUS) 8:59:50
8. Nathan Stewart (AUS) 9:03:29
9. Raimo Raudsepp (EST) 9:04:24
10. Kevin Cutjar (CAN) 9:06:50