Raynard Tissink (RSA) and Desiree Ficker (USA) were the winners of the inaugural 70.3 South Africa race in Buffalo City.

Fraser Cartmell (GBR) was first out of the water with most of the other players close behind as the headed to T1. Early on Fraser and Frederick van Lierde (BEL) were setting the pace on the bikes but Raynard Tissink was never far behind. Around the 26 mile marker Tissink finally grabbed the lead and entered T2 with a few minutes in hand. Tissink's 1:25:08 half marathon run was sufficient to hold off Van Lierde and Cartmell who finished second and third respectively.

In the women's race Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) had a substantial lead coming out of the water and was the sole leader on the bike for quite some time. But race favourite Desiree Ficker (USA) had the fastest bike split by quite a margin and caught Zelenkova at the 52km marker! Ficker was never challenged again and took the title in 4:46:46. Heidi Jesberger finished second and third place went to Zelenkova.


Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa
Buffalo City, SA, January 13

Top 5 men:

1) Raynard Tissink (RSA) 4:03:02
2) Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) 4:04:25
3) Fraser Cartmell (GBR) 4:10:40
4) Konstantin Bachor (GER) 4:13:37
5) Carl Storm (RSA) 4:21:40


Top 5 women:

1) Desiree Ficker (USA) 4:46:46
2) Heidi Jesberger (GER) 4:58:50
3) Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) 5:01:59
4) Davera Magson (RSA) 5:04:15
5) Lisa Baumann (RSA) 5:04:23