There were hopes Saturday for the first Canadian winner of Ironman Hawaii since Peter Reid of Victoria captured the last of his three titles in 2003.
But those were dashed as defending champion Patrick Lange of Germany swept to victory in the 40th anniversary race in a course record seven hours, 52 minutes, 39 seconds to become the first person to breach the eight-hour barrier in the fabled 3.8-kilometre swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run event in Kona.
Lionel Sanders of Harrow, Ont., who was second last year, placed 28th in 8:30:34.
The veteran Brent McMahon of Victoria was bib No. 17 after winning Ironman Canada this summer in Whistler.
But the two-time Olympian — who also has victories in event record times in recent years in Ironman USA at Lake Placid, Ironman Brazil and Ironman Arizona — was 21st out of the water Saturday, 44th after the bike and did not finish the run as Kona remains the one that continues to elude the 37-year-old Islander.
McMahon was ninth in Ironman Hawaii in 2015 and ranked No. 3 last year, but did not finish after being stung by a box jellyfish in the swim portion.
Daniella Ryf of Switzerland was across in 8:26:18 to win her fourth consecutive women’s title with a time that broke her own female record by 20 minutes.
The last Canadian woman to win was Lori Bowden of Victoria in 2003 with the second of her championships in Kona.
Meanwhile, Joanna Brown of Carp, Ont., was sixth in the women’s race and Alexis Lepage of Gatineau, Que., 13th and Matthew Sharpe of Victoria 14th in the men’s race of a World Cup event held Saturday in Sarasota, Florida. The men’s winner was Vincent Luis of France and the women's champion Renee Tomlin of the U.S.
