If you are looking for textbook examples of sportsmanship in triathlon, look no further than the principals who battled for the win at the Rohto Ironman 70.3 California at Oceanside. Sparks flew in the heat of competition when Mirinda Carfrae was battling upstart Heather Jackson and when Andy Potts was fighting with Rasmus Henning for the victory. Afterwards, mutual respect and affection reigned.

Photographs © Timothy Carlson / slowtwitch.com

Heather Jackson just had the race of her life, finishing second to current Ironman World Champion and former Ironman 70.3 World Champion Mirinda Carfrae. When she hugged her beau, Sean Watkins, happy tears flowed.

The agony of victory, the thrill of defeat -- Mirinda Carfrae barely had enough energy left to raise the finish line banner before sinking exhausted to the carpet. Heather Jackson was exultant after dueling with her hero.

Hey are you all right? Runner-up Heather Jackson checks on the winner.

Two exhausted warriors gave it all they had.

Rinny tells Heather 'You were great!'

Rasmus Henning looks like a sacred Aztec bird warming up for the swim.

Chris Legh warms up for the swim. He had a 5th best 1:13:34 run to finish 8th.

Andy Potts swam a race-best 22:36, which gave him a 1 minute 44 second lead on Rasmus Henning starting the bike.

One of the leading elite women swimmers.

Ronnie Schildknecht passes under a Camp Pendleton Marine Base gate on his way to a 3rd best 2:14:00 bike split and 4th overall.

Heather Jackson's women's race-best 2:29:56 bike split launched her to the lead from mile 7 to mile 13 of the run.

Christian Brader of Germany grits his way up the steep hill at mile 30 of the bike.

Andy Potts rode alone in the lead until the chase pack caught him at mile 50 of the bike.

Matt Lieto led the chase pack during this stretch at mile 52 of the bike. Lieto's 2:13:25 bike split was 2nd best. His 1:20:19 run brought him home 10th.

Kevin Everett grabs some water starting the run then finished 12th.

Magali Tisseyre started the run like a house afire and her 1:23:54 took her to 3rd.

Michael Weiss posted the fastest bike split with a time of 2:11:54 and outdueled Ronnie Schildknecht for 3rd.

Mirinda Carfrae is now the best runner in the sport and her silky smooth stride should be painted on a Greek frieze. On a day when she was sub-par but totally game, her race-best 1:18:25 half marathon brought her from 4:45 back to her third straight Oceanside win.

Andy Potts and Rasmus Henning ran side by side for 10 miles before the American surged and prevailed by 18 seconds.

Afterward, Potts said 'I was hoping to run a 3:57.' Without missing a beat, Rasmus Henning said 'You should have done it. I would have won.' The winning time was 3:55:49 and Henning was 18 seconds back at the line.