McCrystal Best of the Irish in Kona

Bryan McCrystal finished the best of the Irish athletes who raced in Ironman Kona overnight.

The Dundalk man crossed the line in a very impressive time of 9hrs 12mins 8secs to finish the 12th in his M35-39 age group and 69th male overall.

At one stage on the 180km bike, McCrystal led the entire age group field as he put in the kind of biking performance that we’ve come to expect from one of the country’s best cyclists and non-drafting triathletes. McCrystal biked the famously tough course in 4hrs 29mins 14secs, making him the quickest biker among the age group racers and 33rd quickest from the entire filed (he was also just 14seconds slower than eventual winner Jan Frodeno on the bike leg).

McCrystal found the going tougher on the run however and was unable to maintain his position. He ran a 3hrs 35mins marathon to cross the line as the first Irish athlete.

Second Irishman home was Ivan O’Gorman who ran a very impressive 3hr marathon off the bike to cross the line in 9hrs 27mins 42secs.

Henning First Woman

Jenna Henning was the best of the Irish women in Kona and completed the brutally tough course in 11hrs 28mins 57secs, putting her 36th in her F25-29 age group.

All 15 of the Irish athletes who made the trip to Kona completed the race – something that cannot always be taken for granted on one of the toughest triathlon courses in the world. Jan Frodeno won the race for the second time in a row in the men’s race while Daniella Ryf set a new course record in the women’s race with a dominant performance for her second win in a row. 

Irish Results