yesterday won their respective divisions in the US National Ironkids Championships in Marietta, Atlanta.

The locals exceeded expectations as they romped to victory against an elite field of American opponents, both turning in surprisingly impressive performances in the cycle event.

Ball was an overwhelming winner in the boys nine-year-old division, finishing his swim-run-cycle course in 18 minutes, 44 seconds, beating his closest challenger by more than a minute.

The next Bermuda finisher was Simon Morrison in 22.59.

Over a much longer course Butterfield won his event in 28 minutes 51 seconds to take honours in the boys 13 division, beating out many Americans who had flown in from other states. Butterfield finished 17 seconds ahead of the second placed athlete.

Andrew Kirkpatrick, the second local finisher in 33.57, was 13th overall while Chris Bennett (36.40) was 17th.

Top local finishers among the girls divisions were Emma Rego and Flora Duffy who each placed fifth in their respective age groups.

Rego, competing in the 13-year-old division turned in a time of 34.08, while Duffy had a time of 20.33 in the nine-year-old group.