Kiwi triathlete Braden Currie has denied Cameron Brown a 13th Ironman New Zealand crown in Taupo.
Three weeks after finishing runner-up at the Coast to Coast multisport race in NZ's south island, Currie held off a strong finish from Brown, 44, to lodge victory.
The 31-year-old powered past another Kiwi, Terenzo Bozzone, early in the marathon run leg and kept a chasing Brown at bay to win in eight hours 20 minutes and 57 seconds.
Brown finished 3:32 back, with Frenchman Cyril Viennot third.
Bozzone, a former Ironman 70.3 half-Ironman world champion, led by up to six minutes during the 180km bike leg.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Currie is a two-time winner of the Taupo half-Ironman.
American Jocelyn McCauley was a winner of the women's race, dominated by overseas athletes.
She crossed more than 12 minutes clear of Briton Laura Siddall, with five-time winner Meredith Kessler below her best in third.
Australian Annabel Luxford was third, two weeks after winning the Geelong half-Ironman.
