Pucon victories for Galindez and Gollnick

Oscar Galindez avenged last year’s loss to young Brazilian star Reinaldo Colucci with a race-record 3:57:26 time that gave the Argentine his 4th victory at the challenging and scenic Pucon Ironman 70.3 course.

Galindez made up a 90-second deficit on the swim with a race-best 2:08:59 bike split which propelled him to Colucci’s wheel at T2. With a swift transition, Galindez took the lead by the exit from transition to Palguin Bajo Road at the lake. With a race-best 1:18:07 run, Galindez cinched the win and set a new race record.

Defending women’s champion Heather Gollnick had a tougher task shaking 2008 Ironman Hawaii 5th place finisher Linsey Corbin and fellow U.S. competitor Amanda Stevens. Stevens took the lead out of the swim, then Corbin and Gollnick dueled on the bike, arriving in T2 in close proximity. The two ran together for almost all of both of the hilly, 6.5-mile loops, but Gollnick surged on the last turn in downtown Pucon and gained the win in 4:28:48.

Top 5 men

1. Oscar Galindez (ARG)
2. Reinaldo Colucci (BRA)
3. Daniel Fontana (ITA)
4. Andrea D'Aquino (ITA)
5. Eduardo Sturla (ARG)

Top 3 women

1. Heather Gollnick (USA)
2. Linsey Corbin (USA)
3. Amanda Stevens (USA)