A race dominated by Josh Amberger and Anja Beranek in Australia, a Challenge event in Brazil, and Ironman Cozumel filled our Weekend Box, meanwhile the Challenge Laguna Phuket triathlon won by Ruedi Wild and Melissa Hauschildt was featured separately here.

Amberger and Beranek shine in Australia

Josh Amberger stormed to another win this weekend after a very fine 23:23 opening swim, a race best 2:04:09 bike split and a solid 1:19:55 run for a total time of 3:49:25. Joe Gambles ran well and chased hard but in the end he had to settle for the runner-up spot in 3:51:41. Joey Lampe made it a complete Aussie podium sweep with his 3rd place finish in 3:54:03.

"To finish the 2014 season with three half-distance wins in a row is like a dream, and something that was certainly unexpected. I had a slow start to the year but ended up coming home really strong," said Amberger to slowtwitch. "I've found my sweet spot on the swim and bike, and now I'm looking forward to continuing working with my coach Cliff English into 2015 to get my run up to scratch."

Gina Crawford led the women out of the water in 26:34, but her lead was less than a minute and before too long German Anja Beranek had ridden herself into the lead with a race best 2:17:26 bike split. At 70.3 Mandurah the German had also attacked hard on the bike but was brought back by Annabel Luxford, Caroline Steffen and Nikki Butterfield then. But not so this time - Beranek lost some time to runner-up Gina Crawford but still had an advantage of over 3 minutes at the end.

“I felt good all day, I love Australia and I am racing well here, it really suits me,” said Beranek.

Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney
Sydney, Australia / November 30, 2014
1.2m swim / 56m bike / 13.1m run

Top men

1. Josh Amberger (AUS) 3:49:25
2. Joe Gambles (AUS) 3:51:41
3. Joseph Lampe (AUS) 3:54:03
4. James Seear (AUS) 3:56:53
5. Lindsey Wall (AUS) 3:58:27

Top women

1. Anja Beranek (GER) 4:16:13
2. Gina Crawford (NZL) 4:19:44
3. Lisa Marangon (AUS) 4:25:49
4. Andrea Forrest (AUS) 4:27:24
5. Dimity-Lee Duke (AUS) 4:28:04


Haley Chura grabs Challenge Florianópolis

Brazil seems to suit Haley Chura very well. After her recent victory at Ironman Brazil the popular Pro proved again that she is not just a super swimmer. At the Challenge Florianópolis half event this weekend the Atlanta resident stormed to another win in 4:06:38. Edivânio Silva Monteiro grabbed the men's title in 3:40:46.

Challenge Florianópolis
Florianópolis, Brazil / November 30, 2014
1.2m swim / 56m bike / 13.1m run

Top men

1. Edivânio Silva Monteiro (BRA) 3:40:46
2. Santiago Alves Asenço (BRA) 3:41:02
3. Danilo De Araújo Pimentel (BRA) 3:45:59
4. Eduardo Antonio Lass (BRA) 3:46:52
5. Vasco André Almeido Pessoa (BRA) 3:47:48

Top women

1. Haley Chura (USA) 4:06:38
2. Pâmella De Oliveira (BRA) 4:12:51
3. Beatriz Neres (BRA) 4:14:07
4. Carolina Furriela Pereira (BRA) 4:16:43
5. Ariane Monticeli (BRA) 4:22:41


Weiss and Spirig rule Cozumel

Michael Weiss stomped on the competition during the bike segment to capture the 2014 Ironman Cozumel in 8:12:16. His 4:22:20 bike split bested his closest challengers by 22 minutes. Matt Chrabot finished second and Clemente Alonso McKernan third.

Nicola Sprig ran down Michelle Vesterby to capture the women’s title in 9:14:07. But Vesterby however had to first reel in Swiss Pro Celine Schaerer, Czech Pro Lucie Zelenkova Reed and Spirig after the swim as those 3 athletes had distanced the rest of the Pro field by at least 2 minutes after the swim. The 5:11:02 bike split of Vesterby was race best, but in the end not strong enough to hold off Sprig on the run. Kelly Williamson ran a race best 2:57:02 marathon to grab the final podium spot.

Ironman Cozumel
Cozumel, Mexico / November 30, 2014
2.4m swim / 112m bike / 26.2m run

Top men

1. Michael Weiss (AUT) 8:12:56
2. Matt Chrabot (USA) 8:29:50
2. Alonso Clemente McKernan (ESP) 8:30:17
4. Trevor Delsaut (FRA) 8:35:54
5. Jonathan Shearon (USA) 8:45:51

Top women

1. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 9:14:07
2. Michelle Vesterby (DEN) 9:17:30
3. Kelly Williamson (USA) 9:24:41
4. Celine Schaerer (SUI) 9:38:20
5. Lucie Zelenkova Reed (CZE) 9:50:11

Image 1 of Josh Amberger © Paul K Robbins | IRONMAN Asia-Pacific