By Kerry Larsen

New South Wales' Chris McCormack showed why he is the world's best iron distance athlete, dominating at the inaugural Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns Iron distance race on Sunday.

Perfect weather conditions showcased Cairns and the Douglas region beautifully, with the full Olympic course consisting of a 3.8km swim at Yorkey's Knob, a 180km cycle between Cairns and Port Douglas and return and a 42.2km run into Cairns.

McCormack crossed the finish line on the Cairns Esplanade in a time of 8 hours 15 minutes 56 seconds to beat home South Australia's Matty White, who crossed the line 13 minutes later.

“I couldn’t believe the pace of the boys in the swim.  I knew Clayton Fettell was swimming well; I was in no-man’s land for a while there. The young boys really laid it down in the water,” said McCormack post race.

“I rode solid and I got in front, but you never know – that run into town is a long way, mentally very, very tough and three laps of the course makes it tough, but the crowd support was absolutely amazing,” said McCormack.

The field remained unchanged on the return trip back to Yorkeys Knob but had to contend with a stiff headwind.

“I played it patient and I knew if I could push down that section to Port Douglas on the bike I could establish a lead, and it played out well. They say ‘you ride for show and you run for the dough’ and I knew that was the key coming into the marathon,” said McCormack. 

WATCH THE VIDEO OF LOCAL REACTIONS IN MACROSSAN STREET (top left)

In the women's full distance event, Burleigh Heads' Rebekah Keat proved she was back to her very best with a come from behind victory from the Northern Territory's Michelle Mitchell, who was the surprise packet in just her second iron distance race.

33 year-old Keat completed an amazing comeback after colliding head-on with a car while riding her bike in the lead up to the Port Macquarie Ironman just six weeks earlier.

Port Douglas' Nick Carling, wearing number 99 and representing Team Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival, finished the full ironman in 147th place in a time of 11hrs, 06mins, 35secs, to do the Douglas region proud (we'll hear more from Nick soon).

Competing in the women's half ironwoman event were Lucy Forbes who finished in 5hrs 54mins; Chelsea Walk in 6hrs 00mins 52secs in 333rd spot overall; and Cooya Beach's Kate Houlahan who finished 484th overall in a time of 7 hours and 3 minutes. This section included a swim of 1.9km, a bike ride of 90km and a 21km run.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF LOCAL REACTIONS IN MACROSSAN STREET (top left) 

The Tri-Port Challengers also flew the Douglas region flag proudly in the teams section, finishing the half event in a time of 6hrs, 04mins, 40secs.

The event will be televised on OneHD on June 25.

Men's full distance results

1. Chris McCormack, NSW

Overall time: 08:15:56
3.8km Swim: 00:47:26
Cycle: 04:34:56
Run: 02:51:00

2. Matty White, SA

Overall: 08:28:36
Swim: 00:49:30
Cycle: 04:38:24
Run: 02:57:55

3. Tim Berkel, NSW

Overall: 08:29:20
Swim: 00:49:28
Cycle: 04:39:08
Run: 02:57:44

4. Jamie Whyte, Auckland, NZ

Overall: 08:35:07
Swim: 00:49:28
Cycle: 04:38:21
Run: 03:04:23

5. Clayton Fettell, NSW

Overall: 08:36:14
Swim: 00:43:48
Cycle: 04:38:15
Run: 03:10:59

Women's full distance

1. Rebekah Keat, QLD

Overall: 09:26:31
Swim: 00:52:57
Cycle: 05:16:34
Run: 03:14:04

2. Michelle Mitchell, NT

Overall: 09:30:41
Swim: 00:53:00
Cycle: 05:17:21
Run: 03:16:10

3. Carrie Lester QLD

Overall: 09:34:56
Swim: 00:55:20
Cycle: 05:11:48
Run: 03:24:50

4. Candice Hammond, Cambridge, NZ

Overall: 09:43:03
Swim: 00:57:26
Cycle: 05:11:26
Run: 03:29:54

5. Belinda Granger, QLD, Australia

Overall: 09:44:41
Swim: 00:52:56
Cycle: 05:13:32
Run: 03:34:34