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WA athlete Matt Burton’s ‘second’ wind as he eyes Ironman World Championship in Hawaii

Headshot of Glen Quartermain
Glen QuartermainThe West Australian
Matt Burton crosses the line at last weekend’s Ironman Western Australia.
Camera IconMatt Burton crosses the line at last weekend’s Ironman Western Australia. Credit: Korupt Vision

When Perth’s Matt Burton crossed the finish line of last weekend’s Ironman Western Australia in second place, his mind drifted to a far away group of islands - Hawaii.

The top two places in Busselton earned automatic entry to next October’s Ironman World Championship in Kona, meaning Burton, 31, will tackle the gruelling Hawaiian test for the first time since he won there at age group (18-24) level.

The milestone marks the end of a long battle to overcome a back injury.

“Last year I missed out (on Hawaii) three times by a spot. It was frustrating but at the same time I don’t believe in a free lunch. You have to work for it,” he said.

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“It is very easy to give up when stuff keeps getting thrown at you.”

Two-time Olympic gold medallist, Briton Alistair Brownlee, was first in Busselton, covering the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon in seven hours 45 minutes 20 seconds, blitzing the old course record by more than six minutes.

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Burton was celebrating just as hard after a 7:55.40 when he mowed down one of the pre-race favourites Sam Appleton (8:09.54) on the run leg, with Tim Van Berkely (8:00.26) third.

Burton became the first West Australian to break the magical eight-hour barrier.

“The 7.55 is starting to sink in. When I was a kid growing up in Swan View, when I started in the sport 10 or 11 years ago, you were considered immortal going under eight hours. Now that I’ve done it, it’s cool,” he said.

“I hadn’t done the maths in my head to know I was on a 7.55 schedule, but to come down the finish chute and see the time ... it was so nice with so many family and friends there,” he said.

He said it was an honour to finish second to Brownlee, considered the best ironman on the planet.

“To be beaten by the benchmark on a good day for him, that tells me I know I am in the ball park now,” he said.

Hawaii has an open field of only 50 elites, but Burton is setting his goals high.

“Realistically now I am looking at top 10. I am really confident I can race well in Kona having done so as an age grouper,” he said.

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