PORT Macquarie triathlete Tim Berkel finished in second place in a remarkable Ironman Melbourne race yesterday.
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Berkel set up a podium spot with a good bike leg before coming in three minutes and 27 seconds behind Canadian Jeffrey Symonds.
Symonds finished in 8:04.28 in perfect conditions in Victoria.
Berkel had to work hard after coming out of the swim in the third bike group. There was hardly any wind as the pack got pedalling.
Once he got off the bike, Berkel looked to be sitting comfortably on Symonds' shoulder.
Symonds had too much power at the back end of the 42 kilometre run and powered to victory.
Brad Kahlefeldt finished third, 1.24 behind Berkel.
Port triathlete and coach Mel Cockshutt was glued to the live coverage yesterday as she watched her charges and Berkel do well.
Cockshutt said it was one of the more exciting race finishes she'd seen.
"Usually, once they spread out in the first 10 kilometres, it's all over," Cockshutt said.
"Tim looked good. Really good.
"He looked comfortable in the run."
Port Macquarie-based commentator Peter Murray was on hand to embrace Berkel as he crossed the line.
"It was really nice to watch," Cockshutt said.
Cockshutt was still waiting for Greg Johnston and Rosie Spicer to finish yesterday. They were due over the line at about 8pm.
The wind picked up for the age groupers but it was too late to worry the professionals.
"The pros would have been well of the bike," Cockshutt said.
Cockshutt, like Berkel, is giving her home Ironman a miss this year.
"I have too many athletes," she said.
"I need to be there for them on race day."
She's tossing up whether to do Ironman Cairns in mid-June in an attempt to qualify for the World Championships at Kona, Hawaii.