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At the final race of the year, Kyle Smith and Hannah Berry of New Zealand ended the season with a bang, claiming victories on home turf at IRONMAN 70.3 Taupō!
The pair, who also took home the top spot at the last iteration of the event in 2019, established a significant lead during the run and overcame tough competition to secure the title, just 12 months out from when the North Island town will host the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
After clinching their wins, both Smith and Berry had nothing but praise for the home crowd, and described the race as the perfect way to wrap up a long season of overseas races.
“To race here at home is a special feeling”
[Photo Credit – Graeme Murray]
“That was incredible, to race here at home is a special feeling and to win here is just incredible. I owe the home crowd the win today, they are the ones that gave me the adrenaline to really attack and push all day.
“It’s incredible to get the win here again and I just love racing here, I can’t wait to race here again at the World Champs next year. When the race is so on the edge of your seat all day, and you don’t know whether you’re going to win and you have to really dig deep mentally and battle some demons almost, it doesn’t sink in until you come down the finish line and then all the emotion hits you.
“Whereas when you’re in the lead by quite a bit you get time to process it but there’s no time to process it until you come down the finish line, so I got pretty emotional and winning here is just incredible.”
Having now tasted success here on more than one occasion, Smith is putting his head down and has stated his number one goal is to become World Champion in the town where he was raised.
“It’s going to be incredible, I’ve put a big red circle around that date for next year, it’s going to be my number one goal for next year to try and be a World Champion here, it would just be a dream. That’s going to be my project for the next 12 months.”
“Worlds coming to New Zealand next year is going to be incredible”
Securing her spot in the World Championships next year, Berry was ecstatic after her win and full of praise for the host venue, which she says will do a great job in December 2024.
[Photo Credit – Graeme Murray]
“Feeling super stoked, it means a lot to come here to Taupō, a New Zealand race at home,