Search
shop

IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand 2022: Moody and Bergsten take plaudits

Kiwi Jack Moody and Swede Anna Bergsten took the honours at IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

The last PRO race of the 2022 season and the honours at IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand went to local favourite Jack Moody in the men’s race and the sole European challenger in the women’s, Sweden’s Anna Bergsten.

It was a special day for both as they were registering their maiden IRONMAN 70.3 wins as professionals.

Advertisement

Pro Men – Moody kicks clear on bike

The swim saw three men lead the way – Aussies Charlie Quin and Sam Osbourne and French Polynesia athlete Benjamin Zorgnotti.

Moody, wearing the #1 bib was 48 seconds behind in fourth but the Aucklander would move into a share of the lead midway through the bike alongside Quin.

Quin was the form athlete after a dream run since moving up to middle distance racing – a win at the Noosa Triathlon followed by a second-place finish at last month’s 70.3 Melbourne and a victory at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon in Thailand.

But it was Moody who took command. He too has had a strong season, featuring a third at IRONMAN Australia in May and a second at IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon in August. Coming out of T2 he was nearly four minutes clear of his rivals.

Jack Moody claimed his debut professional win at the 2022 Nutri-Grain IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand - Photo Sportograf
[Photo credit: Sportograf]

They were headed by compatriot Mike Phillips, who cut through the field thanks to his Tour of Southland cycle race power. He has twice claimed the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupō crown (2018 and 2017) and is returning to the sport after a year out battling plantar fasciitis.

But it was Moody who underlined his status as favourite, moving further and further clear to win by a huge margin after a 1:15:30 half marathon, 7:50 ahead of Phillips, with Simon Cochrane in third to complete a New Zealand 1-2-3.

Pro Women – Bergsten upsets the odds

It was a duel in the water off the shores of Lake Taupō, between home hope Rebecca Clarke and Australian Chloe Hartnett who put over a minute between themselves and the rest.

After what she calls her “best year” of middle and long course racing, which included a top 20 at the IRONMAN World Championship at Kona in October, Clarke headed into the event on the back of a recovery spell and the start of her summer training block in Wanaka.

On paper her big rival was fellow Kiwi Hannah Berry,  the defending IRONMAN New Zealand and IRONMAN 70.3 Taupō champion, and by the time they reached T2 that pair were first and second, with Hartnett 15 seconds back.

But Bergsten, hailing from Öglunda in Sweden, had a different script in mind as she claimed her maiden IRONMAN 70.3 win as a professional, having only made the step up from age group racing this year.

She was fourth off the bike, 1:40 down on the Kiwi duo, but her women’s best half marathon of 1:25:50 saw her sweep past Berry at the halfway mark on the run and she continued to extend her lead to take out the win in 4:21:09, with Berry and Clarke rounding out the podium.

Sweden's Anna Bergsten celebrates her maiden IRONMAN 70.3 win at the 2022 Nutri-Grain IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand - Photo Sportograf
[Photo credit: Sportograf]

Click here for all the post-race reaction from both Moody and Bergsten.

IRONMAN 70.3 New Zealand 2022 Results

Saturday 10 December 2022 – 1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO Men

  • 1. Jack Moody (NZL) – 3:49:18
  • 2. Mike Phillips (NZL) – 3:57:08
  • 3. Simon Cochrane (NZL) – 3:57:58
  • 4. Benjamin Zorgnotti (THA) – 4:00:24
  • 5. Sam Osborne (NZL) – 4:03:02

PRO Women

  • 1. Anna Bergsten (SWE) – 4:21:09
  • 2. Hannah Berry (NZL) – 4:23:27
  • 3. Rebecca Clarke (NZL) – 4:24:37
  • 4. Chloe Hartnett (AUS) – 4:26:02
  • 5. Rebecca Kingsford (NZL) – 4:39:54
Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Let’s race… French Riviera T100
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
Gustav Iden aero position body rocket
How to get better at holding your time trial position – Expert tips from former PRO time trial cyclist Alex Dowsett
SunGod FORTY2s running sunglasses review
First look at the NEW SunGod FORTY2s running sunglasses – TRI247 Review
latest News
Lucy Gossage Winter Spine Race 2024
Triathlon star and doctor Lucy Gossage hails new research which says exercise is medicine in the fight against cancer
Paris 2024 Olympics - Cassandre Beaugrand wins
Olympic triathlon greats Beaugrand and Brownlee head star-studded Supertri cast for 2025
Riana Crehan IRONMAN Cairns 2025
SAS Australia superstar Riana Crehan ACES triathlon by passing epic IRONMAN Cairns test
Lionel Sanders training pic August 2023 photo credit Talbot Cox
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders is injured and seeking answers as he confirms IRONMAN Lake Placid DNS
Hiromu Inada IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns 2025
92-year-old IRONMAN triathlete completes 70.3-mile course in iconic Australian race
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...