IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship full finishing order and times from New Zealand as triathlon produces ANOTHER blockbuster

It was a spectacular triathlon day in New Zealand on Saturday as Taupo did not disappoint for the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.

A stellar field of Pro Women produced entertainment befitting the top billing with a fascinating race which produced a host of sensational performances.

American prodigy Taylor Knibb completed an epic threepeat of victories in the race following her successes in St George in 2022 and Lahti in 2023. But it was no cakewalk for the US superstar.

Britain’s Kat Matthews pushed Knibb all the way with a brilliant all-round performance, topped off by the day’s second-fastest run. Aussie star Ashleigh Gentle also aced the run to surge through the field for the final podium spot.

READ MORE: What is a good IRONMAN 70.3 time?

Kat of course also came away with another wonderful bonus – namely the $200k on offer for topping the inaugural IRONMAN Pro Series standings.

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Finish Line Kat Matthews Taylor Knibb — Second-place Kat Matthews congratulates 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Taylor Knibb (Photo – Fiona Goodall, Getty Images for IRONMAN).

Full finishing order and times – Pro Women

The full finishing order on Saturday looked like this:

1. Taylor Knibb (USA) – 3:57:34 (24:30 / 2:10:09 / 1:19:20)
2. Kat Matthews (GBR) – 3:58:49 (25:03 / 2:14:41 / 1:15:34)
3. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) – 4:03:01 (25:04 / 2:18:03 / 1:16:26)
4. Imogen Simmonds (SUI) – 4:05:12 (24:32 / 2:14:34 / 1:22:15)
5. Julie Derron (SUI) – 4:06:02 (24:39 / 2:18:15 / 1:19:38)
6. Paula Findlay (CAN) – 4:07:12 (25:20 / 2:17:37 / 1:20:31)
7. Ellie Salthouse (AUS) – 4:07:48 (25:46 / 2:18:55 / 1:19:15)
8. Caroline Pohle (GER) – 4:08:06 (24:36 / 2:18:18 / 1:21:25)
9. Tamara Jewett (CAN) – 4:08:47 (26:17 / 2:22:30 / 1:16:12)
10. Grace Thek (AUS) – 4:09:08 (25:04 / 2:20:58 / 1:19:14)
11. Nikki Bartlett (GBR) – 4:09:53 (28:21 / 2:16:41 / 1:20:43)
12. Laura Madsen (DEN) – 4:10:01 (26:37 / 2:16:05 / 1:23:22)
13. Solveig Lovseth (NOR) – 4:10:40 (26:19 / 2:20:02 / 1:20:36)
14. Hannah Berry (NZL) – 4:10:52 (25:02 / 2:18:10 / 1:23:58)
15. Hanne De Vet (BEL) – 4:12:53 (24:40 / 2:18:15 / 1:26:21)
16. Lizzie Rayner (GBR) – 4:13:19 (25:48 / 2:21:30 / 1:21:54)
17. Els Visser (NED) – 4:13:24 (28:56 / 2:18:16 / 1:22:12)
18. Jackie Hering (USA) – 4:13:35 (26:27 / 2:22:06 / 1:21:01)
19. Daniela Kleiser (GER) – 4:14:16 (33:32 / 2:22:02 / 1:14:15)
20. Lotte Wilms (NED) – (24:21 / 2:18:45 / 1:27:33)
21. Marta Sanchez (ESP) – 4:15:08 (24:29 / 2:23:31 / 1:23:10)
22. Sara Perez Sala (ESP) – 4:15:37 (24:20 / 2:24:34 / 1:22:55)
23. Lisa Becharas (USA) – 4:15:49 (26:40 / 2:16:10 / 1:28:51)
24. Grace Alexander (USA) – 4:16:06 (25:04 / 2:22:20 / 1:24:40)
25. Valerie Barthelemy (BEL) – (24:45 / 2:22:30 / 1:26:02)
26. Alice Alberts (USA) – (27:27 / 2:20:20 / 1:25:02)
27. Maja Stage Nielsen (DEN) – (26:15 / 2:20:08 / 1:27:27)
28. Giorgia Priarone (ITA) – 4:20:34 (28:18 / 2:26:08 / 1:22:13)
29. Rebecca Clarke (NZL) – 4:20:56 (24:22 / 2:23:10 / 1:29:27)
30. Gabrielle Lumkes (USA) – 4:21:25 (25:34 / 2:23:01 / 1:28:40)
31. Marlene de Boer (NED) – 4:21:43 (28:10 / 2:21:15 / 1:27:53)
32. Jodie Stimpson (GBR) – 4:22:10 (24:44 / 2:29:14 / 1:24:33)
33. Cecilia Perez (MEX) – 4:22:21 (26:21 / 2:29:56 / 1:22:03)
34. Marta Lagownik (POL) – 4:23:46 (28:15 / 2:30:11 / 1:21:28)
35. Hannah Knighton (NZL) – 4:27:30 (25:03 / 2:26:45 / 1:31:14)
36. Fiona Moriarty (IRE) – 4:32:40 (28:10 / 2:29:34 / 1:30:52)
37. Danielle Lewis (USA) – 4:32:50 (29:38 / 2:23:52 / 1:34:57)
38. Kristen Marchant (CAN) – (24:53 / 2:32:21 / 1:31:05)
39. Luis Iogna Prat (ITA) – 4:33:11 (25:05 / 2:35:37 / 1:28:29)
40. Caroline Shannon (USA) – 4:47:07 (31:19 / 2:36:50 / 1:34:46)
41. Anna Torres (ECU) – 5:06:20 (33:33 / 2:38:17 / 1:49:20)

Fastest splits of the day

Spain’s Sara Perez Sala was first out of the waters of Lake Taupo, clocking the day’s fastest swim at 24:20.

The bike leg was where the race was won and lost though, with eventual victor Taylor Knibb building a commanding lead thanks to a brilliant 2:10:09 split.

Germany’s Daniela Kleiser produced the day’s fastest half-marathon by closing with a rapid 1:14:15 run. Runner-up Matthews meanwhile was the next best with that terrific 1:15:34. The Brit had also posted the third fastest bike split.