Busselton Ironman: Brisbane athlete Kylie Simpson wins women’s event

Brisbane triathlete Kylie Simpson has defended her Ironman title, claiming the women’s top spot in Busselton on Sunday. Simpson crossed the Busselton finish line in a time of 9:06.14 to back up her Ironman Cairns win and underline her status among the sport’s elite. She may have been last out of the water after the first leg of the race, taking one hour, eight minutes, 34 seconds in the 3.8km swim leg, but she quickly made up the time when the race returned to land. Simpson took the lead at the 115km mark of the 180km bike ride, entered the running leg seven minutes ahead of her nearest rival, competitor, and didn’t look back to extend her lead before winning. Crossing the line after a three-hour run, the Brisbane based athlete was lost for words as she soaked up the victory. “Wow, it feels pretty good,” she said. “This is my first time in Busselton and it’s amazing here. It’s beautiful, great conditions today and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. “Thank you to Busselton - there was some amazing support on the course to day which was fantastic.” Embracing coach Cameron Watt at the finish line, Simpson said her win was thanks to the support of him and her team. The win sees Simpson secure a spot in the Ironman World championship next year in Hawaii. She will also be competing in the Ironman World Championships in Utah.