The South African canoeing, running and adventure racing representative laid to rest the ghosts from an indifferent race last year in which she finished runner-up to Elina Ussher in 13hr 29min 21sec.
She was reluctant to come back after last year but the 27-year-old was persuaded to do so by younger brother Lance Kime (26), in order to give him a greater reason to enter himself.
Given the quality field, the race for the women’s crown was always going to be a thriller and that is just what it proved to be, with Owen, Sophie Hart, Simone Maier, Corrine O’Donnell and Ussher all featuring in the 55km cycle stage to Aickens and in the early stages of the alpine run up Deception Valley.
But once the the 33km alpine run started to bite, Owen came into her own, opening up a five-minute lead by Goat Pass that blew the women’s field apart.
Two-time champion Hart appeared to be settling in for the chase, with Maier, O’Donnell and Ussher all isolated by equal distances.
Owen continued to play to her strengths throughout the remainder of the run and over the kayak stage. Hart continued to chase with passion, giving it everything on the kayak stage, despite losing time when she tipped out. Playing to her strengths paid off for Owen as she stole a 19-minute lead going into the 70km cycle section to the finish at New Brighton.
Owen said the mountain run was a definite highlight in helping set her up for victory.
"Right now this is all I can think about. It feels like the best moment in my life."
As for any plans to celebrate, Owen said she might manage half a beer and collapse into bed.
Finishing second behind Owen, Hart said taking down the 19 minutes Owen had established going into the final stage was always going to be a big ask.
"I just needed a few more kilometres. I didn’t give up. I just chipped away and chipped away and I knew the gap was getting down but in the end I just ran out of time."
In a result that brought interest in the race for the women’s crown to life, Maier crossed for third place, a minute behind Hart.
But the women’s result will be remembered not only for the title heading offshore, and Hart slicing 15min from Owen’s lead on the final stage, but also for Owen being greeted by her tearful younger brother, who had not long beforehand finished ninth overall in the open men’s field and had remained at the finish area to greet her as she came in.
Owen went Coast to Coast in 12hr 44min 56sec, which is one of the fastest times clocked in recent years. Hart clocked 12hr 48min 46sec for second and Maier finished third in 13hr 2min 21sec.
