By Kent Gray/Triathlon.kiwi
Another career high even with the frustration of a flat tyre. The impressive comeback of Hannah Berry just keeps on getting better and there’s clearly wiggle room for more.
The Mt Maunganui 34-year-old finished 10th at the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, overnight despite losing a touch with the front bunch – and oodles of time – when she punctured 100km into the 180km bike leg.
She finished in 9:32:13 after closing with a 3:09:25 marathon. Germany’s Laura Philipp won in 8:45:15 from Brit Kath Matthews (8:53:20)and reigning Ironman NZ champion Chelsea Sodaro (USA/9:04:38) while fellow Kiwi Rebecca Clarke was 22nd in 9:56:05.
Berry collected US$11,000 (NZ$17,649) for her tough day’s work in France and is up to 8th in the inaugural IRONMAN Pro Series – with just two IRONMAN 70.3 races remaining including the December 14 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Taupo.
If the season finished today, Berry would walk away with US$20,000 (NZ$32,073) from the overall US$1.7 million IMPS prize pool. But she’s qualified for Taupo and will be determined to climb further up the rankings which pay out US$200,000 to the leading female and male. Cracking the top five would guarantee at least a US$50k payday.
But that is for later. For now, Berry is rightfully basking in the afterglow of a top 10 at the world championships. It eclipsed her 11th on debut in Kona last year and continued a memorable 2024 which has included victory at Ironman Cairns.
It’s certainly a vast improvement on 2021 and 2022 when she spent long periods sidelined by injury.
“I’m really proud of that one, I got a flat tyre on the bike and had to stop twice so mentally to overcome that and carry on and stay positive, and then to hold off Danielle [fast-finishing American Danielle Lewis] to make top 10, I’m proud of that one,” said Berry.
“I actually felt really good on the bike and was in a great position, I just caught Fenella [Langridge, who eventually faded to 16th] along the flats along the top, it was just after 100km and I thought finally someone that I can work with along here into the headwind, I jumped on the front for my first turn and got a flat,” she said.
“Then I was on my own for the rest of the bike, I’m used to racing on my own, I seem to do it a lot on the bike and today was another one, just proud to stick it out.”
Clarke, who was third out of the water, is up to 17th in the IMPS.
The Aucklander spent plenty of time mixed in with the leaders in the opening stages of the 180km ride before slipping back as they made their way onto the plateau behind Nice. Clarke pushed on throughout the run, swapping positions with those around her a number of times on her way to the finish line.
