Coming off a 3rd place finish at Kona, Sarah Crowley of Australia overcame a 5 minutes swim deficit with a 2nd-best bike and a race-best run to win Ironman Arizona.

Crowley started with a 55:09 swim that left her 5:11 behind swim maestra Lauren Brandon of the U.S., 1:19 behind Meredith Kessler of the U.S. and 5:57 ahead of previous Ironman Arizona winner Heather Jackson of the U.S.

After a second-fastest 4:45:01 bike split, Crowley opened a 2:16 lead on Brandon (4:51:38 bike split) and 5:59 lead on Jackson, who posted the women’s fastest 4:44:42 split.

At Mile 5 of the run, Crowley maintained a 6-minute lead on Jackson which she maintained through Mile 18. After a women’s-best 3:03:36 marathon, Crowley broke the tape in 8:49:37 with a 6:12 margin of victory on Jackson (3:04:08 run) and 15:58 margin on 3rd place Kessler (3:10:20 run split).

Melanie McQuaid of Canada took 4th place, 30:33 behind the winner, and, after a bravura swim and excellent bike, finished with a 3:39:10 run to take 5th place, 38 minutes arrears.

With this race, Crowley validated her 3rd place finish at Kona to earn a place on the 2020 Kona start line, while Jackson and Kessler took the two available Kona qualifying slots.

Ironman Arizona
Tempe , Arizona
November 24, 2019
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.

Results

Pro Women

1. Sarah Crowley (AUS) 8:49:37 S 55:09 T1 4:26 B 4:45:01 T2 1:27 R 3:03:36
2. Heather Jackson (USA) 8:55:49 S 1:01:06 T1 4:33 B 4:44:42 T2 1:22 R 3:04:08
3. Meredith Kessler (USA) 9:05:35 S 53:44 T1 5:13 B 4:54:39 T2 1:41 R 3:10:20
4. Melanie McQuaid (CAN) 9:20:00 S 59:29 T1 5:10 B 4:53:26 T2 2:31 R 3:19:26
5. Lauren Brandon (USA) 9:27:27 S 49:58 T1 4:31 B 4:51:38 T2 2:12 R 3:39:1:0