Five-time world ironman champion Craig Alexander has won the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman with a time of 3:48:02.

Dubbed the 'King of Kona”, Craig beat thousands of competitors to take the top placing.

Craig Alexander crossing the finish line in first place. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Braden Currie came in a close second.

Cameron Brown took out third place.

He was quickly followed over the finish line by Braden Currie, who had a time of 3:49:11 and Cameron Brown, who came in third with a time of 3:49:32.

The race record of 3:47:56 was made by Graham O'Grady.

Craig last graced the POTH course in 2005 and says he loves competing in the race at The Mount.

'Predominately the course is the same but they have moved the transition period about half a kilometre, but you still had to ride on the same roads and run around The Mount twice, it was a tough day,” says Craig.

'I felt pretty comfortable running out but I have had a lot of problems with my back over the last two years and I just don't seem to get loose on the run straight away, it takes a while.

'My legs felt great but my back was a bit tight. I think I was first out of the transition but Braden Currie came around pretty quickly and was setting a fairly brisk pace, so I thought I would hang with Cameron Brown. He normally paces himself pretty well.

'He dropped me as I went through a bad patch in the last lap. But coming off The Mount the first time my back seemed to loosen up and I got into a good rhythm. I think I made the turn about half a minute behind. But I knew I was closing the gap on the second run.” Craig says he focused on his own race and had a good rhythm going.

'I thought it was better to pace myself and not to surge ahead. I dialled up a pace I thought I could keep for the rest of the run.”

When asked if he would return to the triathlon next year, the Australian said anything could happen.

'I would love to be back but at 41-years-old who knows? If I'm racing next year, I'll come back for sure. I love it here. I love these sought of races, the festival atmosphere.

'It's always great to race in a big city but it's good to race in towns like this where the whole town and the community gets behind it. The media get behind it and you get great volunteers.”

Craig feels the POTH is what triathlons were when he first started competing 20 years ago.

'It's a fantastic atmosphere and this is how the sport started. When I started 20 years ago in triathlon all the races were like this and now they are few and far between. It's what I really miss about the sport.”

When asked about his run around The Mount, Craig says it is the reason he came back.

'That is very unique. You really get some iconic like that in a course. For me that's what I remember the most. When I came here two years ago, I remember running past the cafes and seeing everyone having breakfast and I remember running around The Mount and how hard it was.

'It's one of the great features about the course.”

Craig says looking at the scenery helped take his mind of the pain his body was going through as he battled his way through the race.

'I always find courses like this mentally easier because you can break them up into sections.”

Braden Currie, Craig Alexander and Cameron Brown.