A dominating performance by Terenzo Bozzone gave him the win at the 2009 Ironman 70.3 Eagleman in Cambridge, MD. Mirinda Carfreae ran down Natascha Badmann to take the women's title.
The very popular Eagleman event was able to draw quite a few good pros and age groupers today despite the 'competition' of 2 other 70.3 races in the US, plus 70.3 UK in Europe and of course the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco, CA this weekend.
The men
Terenzo Bozzone showed that he meant business with a great swim and a very strong bike split of 2:08:11. Only Michael Lovato's time of 2:08:59 was in that ball park, but Lovato had lost almost 3 minutes on Bozzone in the swim. Now almost 4 minutes back, Lovato entered T2 in second place. Next into transition was Richie Cunningham and he looked very smooth as he headed out onto the run.
Cunningham soon caught Lovato and began to pursue Bozzone. But Bozzone was not going to be denied and he crossed the line first in 3:51:11. Cunningham was next in 3:51:27 and Lovato took third in 3:56:50.
After the race Bozzone said "The race went well for me. I felt strong in the swim and on the bike and managed to get through the run fine. The win was great, especially considering last years circumstances where I finished 2nd."
The women
Amanda Stevens was first out of the water among the pro women with about a minute lead on Laurel Wassner, Kelly Handel and Mirinda Carfrae.
Carfrae soon pushed into the lead on the bike, but behind her a storm was brewing. Natascha Badmann had another average swim that put her about 5 minutes out of the lead and about 4 minutes behind Carfrae, Handel and Wassner. Badmann started to fly past the competitors in front of her with a superb 2:16:38 bike split and entered T2 in first place with quite a lead. Next into transition were Carfrae, Stevens and Amy Kloner.
Out on the run though the hunted Carfrae become the hunter and relentlessly pursued Badmann. Carfrae's 1:19:33 bested all other female pros and gave her the Eagleman title in a time of 4:16:51. Badman finished second in 4:20:24 and Desiree Ficker rounded out the podium in 4:28:13.
"All I can really say about Eagleman is that Badmann is back - and might be stronger than ever on that bike," said Carfrae to slowtwitch. "I was a little surprised with her lead at the end, she caught me at about 60km which is where I started to hurt a little and proceeded to put about 3:30 into me in the last 30km. She is just so strong on that bike - amazing!"
Eagleman Ironman 70.3
Cambridge, MD / June 14
Top 10 men
1. Terenzo Bozone (NZL) 3:51:11
2. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 3:51:27
3. Michael Lovato (USA) 3:56:50
4. Mike Caiazzo (USA) 3:58:11
5. Paul Fritzsche (USA) 4:01:07
6. Nick Frank () 4:02:05
7. Kevin Lisska (USA) 4:03:01
8. Chris McDonald (AUS) 4:06:07
9. John Kenny (USA) 4:06:07
10. Ryan Bates (USA) 4:10:56
Top 10 women
1. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 4:16:51
2. Natascha Badmann (SUI) 4:20:24
3. Desiree Ficker (USA) 4:28:13
4. Amanda Stevens (USA) 4:30:53
5. Kelly Handel (USA) 4:31:43
6. Laurel Wassner (USA) 4:33:08
7. Kate Pallardy (USA) 4:33:15
8. Amy Kloner (USA) 4:33:25
9. Lindsey Jerdonek (USA) 4:34:37
10. Anne Basso (USA) 4:36:47
More great images of the Eagleman 70.3 event can be found on the sportzfoto.com site of Clarke Rodgers
