Lieto, Gollnick claim IM Wisconsin
September 17, 2002, Madison, Wisconsin (www.slowtwitch.com):
Americans Chris Lieto and Heather Gollnick took home their first Ironman victories Sunday at the inaugural Ironman Wisconsin in Madison before cheering crowds of thousands of spectators.
It was first-year pro (and home-state favorite) Gollnick's first professional Ironman race, and second-year pro Lieto's first pro Ironman win.
The race had more than 1,800 starters from 25 countries and 80 qualifying slots to Kona. Pros split a $25,000 prize purse.
According to an account from Ironman North America's Shane Facteau, Gollnick took the lead early into the bike ride and held it to the finish. Behind her, a steady run moved Japan's Yoko Okuda into second ahead of Ironman legend Wendy Ingraham of the U.S., who was third.
Gollnick told Ironmanlive: "It's definitely my kind of course, hilly and windy. It's a pretty physically demanding course.
"My daughter has cerebral palsy, and I was so surprised to see her on the course. I saw her at mile seven on the run. It choked me up--and it really excited me."
In the men's race, Lieto posted the day's fastest bike split, a 4:43, and held off a charge on the run from tough Aussie Chris Legh, who at one point had narrowed the gap to just ten seconds. Legh then hit stomach trouble on the run and came home in second, five minutes back. France's Christophe Buquet used the day's fastest marathon (a 2:52:37) to run his way into third place, with Canada's Jamie Cleveland in fourth and American Peter Kotland in fifth.
Facteau said several communities on the bike course organized festivals in conjunction with the race, putting thousands of cheering spectators onto the roads to motivate the athletes.
Lieto told Ironmanlive: "The crowd out there was unreal. On the bike, in one area, it felt like the Tour."
"These are the largest crowds we have ever had at an Ironman, and maybe of an Ironman ever," said Ironman North America president Graham Fraser. Crowd size estimates range from 50,000 to 75,000, Facteau said.
Also notable was American Joe Bonness' finish. This dominator of the 45-49 age group finished in 21st place overall, in 9:51:26, one place ahead of women's winner Gollnick.
(RESULTS)
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• Lieto, Gollnick claim IM Wisconsin