Following her race last Sunday, the first time she has entered an event like this, Soolan Clifford walked away with an awarded place in the Ironman world championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii this October.

It was the longest distance that Clifford had entered in this category, with the entire race made up of a grueling 3.8km swim, the 180km bike ride and a 42.2km run.

Clifford raced into second place in the 50 to 54 years age group in a time of 12:03:03 hrs in her first Ironman event, and the following day was offered a spot in the much sort after world championships in Hawaii. 

A regimented training schedule over recent months has paid off.  Soolan completed the Brisbane marathon finishing in 11th place and at the long course event at Husky Triathlon Festival in February she took out first place in age group.

Clifford was consistent at Ironman Australia and stuck to the race plan - the 1:08:25 hr swim put her in second place in age group leading into the bike leg.

She maintained this position throughout the rest of the race with 6:27:44 hrs on the 180 km bike, and followed up with a solid marathon run of 4:14:54 hrs.

Clifford said she was anxious before the race with so many unknowns but was happy it all came together on the day.

“I had a plan and I stuck to that plan. I could not have done this and felt so well throughout the day without coach Dan Benton,” she said.

I also owe so much to family, friends, the Mudgee Tri Club and the Barnyarders for all their support and belief.”

The aid of Benton, the triathlon coach that had made sure Clifford stuck to her training regimes and was ready for the Port Macquarie battle, could not be understated by the Red Devil athletes, and Rowan Rowlands was proud of how Clifford rose to the challenge.

“She has done everything her coach asked of her,” Rowlands said. 

Outside of Clifford’s impressive qualification for Hawaii, the Mudgee Red Devils club were represented by four competitors in the Ironman Australia.

Brenton Leonard was 14th in age group in Mudgee’s best time for the day as he recorded 11:45:23 hrs.

Rowlands competed at the Ironman distance for the first time and finished in 12:09:15hrs despite a low point at the 30kilometre mark on the run leg.

“It was tough, I went into some dark places after about 30k but recovered,” Rowan said.   

Stewart Campbell had strong swim and bike legs and finished 11^th.

Mudgee’s endurance triathletes will now have a well-earned break after Port Macquarie, which finishes the triathlon season.