Judge Cynthia Newton has been named a world-class Ironman.

CLEARWATER – Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Cynthia Newton did so well in her Ironman competitions last year she won a coveted designation reserved only for those who rank in the top 10 percent of their age group — in the world.

She is an Ironman All World Athlete. Newton, 48, who has been on the bench for 10 years, is ranked 290th in the world, and 151st in the U.S., in a category for women from 45 to 49 years old.

The rankings are based on a point system tied to how well an athlete did compared with the winner of a particular event in his or her age group. On Dec. 31, an athlete’s top three performances for that year are taken into consideration, and the points calculated. Those in the top 1 percent are granted Ironman All World Athlete gold status; in the top 5 percent, silver status; and in the top 10 percent, bronze status.

In the international rankings, Newton’s points put her right behind an Austrian Ironman who is ranked third in her country, and ahead of three fellow Americans. In the U.S. rankings, Newton was directly behind a Virginia woman, and ahead of women from New York, the state of Washington, and New Mexico.

All told, there were 4,486 women in Judge Newton’s category world-wide. In September, Newton took part in a Chattanooga Ironman competition, a 144.6 mile event comprising a 2.4 mile swim down the Tennessee River, a 116-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2-mile run through the city’s downtown. The judge’s time in the race was 13 hours and 42 minutes, which netted her 2,732 points.

It was a considerable improvement over her time in an Ironman she completed in June, at Coeur d’Alene in Idaho. The outcome of the Idaho race was 15 hours and 52 minutes, worth 1,592 points. The Ironman All World Athlete program also took into consideration Newton’s time in a 2014 Ironman 70.3, or Half Ironman, in Florida. The results of that race gave her 2,381 points, with the total for all three races 6,705 points.

There are a few benefits of an Ironman All World Athlete designation, and they come into play only if an athlete continues signing up for Ironman competitions. Depending on whether one has gold, silver or bronze status, an athlete may receive priority treatment when it comes to signing up for a race, checking in for a race, or receiving a special welcome at a banquet. The true significance is the realization that, by dint of hard work and training, one has reached a special echelon of accomplishment, in an area known for brutal competition.

Or, as Newton said, “I’m really excited about the AWA status. I’m hoping to improve in this year’s events.” For information, see pinellascounty.org.

Pinellas Court | Pinellas Judge | Cynthia Newton | Ironman Competition

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