Gina Crawford wins 2012 Challenge Wanaka
After taking a year off to have her first child, Rolf Prima athlete, Gina Crawford returned to claim her fourth title at Challenge Wanaka and ninth iron-distance win.
Crawford led the women’s field from the start in the chilly glacier-fed waters of Lake Wanaka. Exiting just seconds behind Crawford was Nicole Ward from Australia, followed by Christie Sym. About a third of the way into the bike leg, Crawford had gained over a four-minute lead on any chasers, including Ward and Sym. Gusty winds caused Crawford to fight to keep her lead going into T2.
Pushing through on the run, Crawford held her lead to take her fourth title at Challenge Wanaka with a finishing time of 9:44:06. “I just missed training and racing when I was pregnant, and this is my favorite race,” Crawford said. "Six months after Benji's birth I didn't know how I would go, but I am spot on where I was last time I raced.”