The 28-year-old finished the 1.9km swim, 90.1km bike ride and 21.1km run in 4:12:18, a close 31 seconds ahead of the runner-up and 6.5 minutes ahead of the third place winner for men aged 25 to 29.
‘It came down to three people off the bike ” we pushed ahead and I only got to the front in the last 7km,’ he said.
McConnell said he was pleased with his result, having also finished 24th overall (out of 1773) and ahead of some of the professional competitors.
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READ NOWFormer Olympian Brad Kahlefeldt won the race in 3:45:38, while Liz Blatchford won the women’s division in 4:19:07.
McConnell will now set his sights on the ironman world championships in Hawaii this |October.
This event will involve a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km run.
‘It’s the pinnacle of endurance racing and it’s viewed this way because of its environment,’ he said.
McConnell thanked those who are helping him get to Hawaii, including Allan and Suzie Nicholls from Al’s Cycle Surgery in Heathridge and Michael Stavretis from Maylands Park IGA.