💬 Silver medallist Hannah Berry is “stoked” with her early season form. Jack Moody, his ticket to October’s Ironman World Championships Kona also punched, described his delight at rounding out a “very epic summer”. Kyle Smith spoke of the “dreaded bonk” after leading for so long, while Sam Osborne lauded the crowds for cheering him home despite the last 10km of the marathon stealing “pieces of my soul”.
Anzco Foods Ironman New Zealand, serving double duty in its 42nd edition on Saturday as the 2026 Ironman Pro Series opener, delivered in spades as ever.
Berry (8:35:43) produced the standout Kiwi performance, finishing 2nd to two-time defending Pro Series champion Kat Matthews (GBR) in a women’s podium rounded out by Aussie-based Dutchwoman Lotte Wilms. Rebecca Clarke (9:19:46) and Hannah Knighton (9:41:41) placed 10th and 15th respectively to round out the Kiwi effort in the pro women’s field, the former in her first IMNZ start since her bronze medal in 2023 and the latter in her IMNZ debut.
“I was happy with my race; swam front pack in a very speedy swim group, had decent legs on the bike coming into T2 at the front of the race, and also achieved my goal of a run PB and a sub3 marathon,” Berry wrote on social after finishing 6min 48sec adrift of Matthews to claim 4592 IM Pro Series points and a cheque for US$11,500 (NZ$19,606).
“2nd place , some decent Pro Series points, and a qualification for Kona ticked off.
Little by little the progress keeps coming (thanks coach @benreszel) and I’m stoked with where we are at early season. Racing at home is the BEST.”
“Huge congrats to @katr_matthews on yet another incredible performance 🥇, to @lotte_wilms for a really strong race for 3rd, and to all the rest of the women in our field too. It’s a privilege to be surrounded by so many furiously competitive yet incredibly kind women in our sport.”
Berry ended her post by signalling the Ironman North American Championship in Texas on April 18 as her next start.
Moody tops Kiwi men
All roads lead to the October 11 IM Worlds in Kona where Berry will share the big day on the Big Island with Moody (7:51:03) who finished 4th behind Trevor Foley (USA), French 140.6 debutant Pierre Le Corre and Matt Hanson (USA) in the men’s race.
Moody snagged 4741 points and a US$6000 (NZ$10,242) payday on Saturday. It capped a Kiwi summer campaign that saw the 32-year-old Aucklander lead into Taupo with wins at the Tauranga Half and Challenge Wanaka.
“4th at Ironman NZ and Kona Slot locked in. Special day for me to round out a very epic summer,” Moody (pictured above) said.
“Put myself where I needed to be all day and came off the bike within touch of the key players. Approached the run aggressively challenging for the win but with the running company around me it wasn’t to be. Super proud with hanging tough for 4th and first Kiwi home. A huge thank you to the insane crowd support out there and my support network and sponsors.
“Congrats to the podium @tfoleyracing , @pierre.le.corre and @matthansontri. Wasn’t an easy day and certainly bought the best out of me!”
Moody comfortably edged 5th-placed Cantab Mike Phillips (7:58:09) for leading Kiwi honours with Phillips in turn ahead of Norwegian favourite Kristian Blummenfelt (8:01:02) who battled bravely despite a serious bike mechanical and stomach cramps on the run.
Sam Osborne (8:09:38) was the next best of the New Zealanders in 8th, ahead of Matt Kerr (8:10:42) in an impressive 9th and hometown hero Kyle Smith (8:12:00) in 11th after being the early pace-setter in the bike. Popular Cantab Tom Somerville (8:49:02) was 15th in his pro swansong.
For Rotorua’s Osborne (pictured above), top 10 in his IMNZ debut was a day he won’t forget.
“Pretty special to do my first one [140.6] so close to home in front of the home crowds and as a Pro Series race,” Osborne said.
“Was a hell of a day out there, had a great swim leaving T1 in 2nd and riding in the front group till things started to get explosive at 120km. Probably burned many matches trying to close the gaps down and get back into the move which hurt the back end of the bike.
“Got into a good rhythm on the run till that last 10km stole pieces of my soul. All those cheers really brought me home.”
Smith’s comeback from a year in illness and injury was great until it wasn’t. Typically, there were no excuses, rather a focus on the future…and gratitude to be racing his home roads.
“Oh man what a day… absolutely no regrets on how I raced today,” Smith said.
“A really good swim and a 180km solo TT and I was feeling amazing and under control until half way through the marathon then cramps came without a warning and then straight after the dreaded bonk.
“Nothing left, I limped home for the last 10km. Thank you to everyone out on course for the amazing support. This truly is one special race.
“It’s good to be back fighting for wins. I’m going to dust myself off and build to the next one. A few things to tweak and should make it through 😉.”
