Patrick Evoe of Austin, Texas and Bree Wee of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii both scored exhilarating breakthrough first Ironman wins in the heat and humidity of Louisville.

Evoe, who 10 years ago was a 50-pounds-overweight semiconductor engineer who took up triathlon to get healthy, overcame a 58:15 swim with a sizzling fast, race-best 4:33:31 bike split and a 2nd-fastest 3:06:01 marathon to finish in 8:42:44 with an 8-minutes 15 seconds margin of victory over defending Ironman Louisville champion Chris McDonald of Australia. Thomas Gerlach of Tucson, Arizona took 3rd, 19:58 back of Evoe’s winning performance.

Evoe, a long time training partner of Richie Cunningham, has been knocking on the door of Ironman success for years. The road to this long awaited win includes a 5th at Ironman Louisville in 2007, a 4th at Ironman Louisville in 2010, and 2nd place finishes at Ironman Louisville and Ironman Cozumel in 2011.

Wee, a single mother whose articulate and moving blog about the delights of Hawaiian life and her love for her young son Kainoa have gained an enormous following, edged Jackie Arendt of Middleton, Wisconsin after a race-long duel by 1:47. Wee and Arendt emerged from the swim 3 seconds apart, 56:18 to 56:21. Then Wee’s race-fastest 5:12:18 bike split gave her a 3:29 advantage starting the run. In the showdown on the run, Wee’s 2nd-fastest 3:22:03 marathon surrendered just 1:47 to Arendt, propelled her to the finish in 9:36:27 and preserved her victory by precisely 1 minute and 47 seconds.

Wee’s best previous long course finishes include a 4th, 3rd, and 2nd at Ironman 70.3 Philippines, a 2011 win at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii and 4th place at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii this year, a 2nd place at Ironman Japan in 2008 and an 8th place finish at Ironman South Africa this year.

Ironman Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
August 26, 2012
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.

Results

Men

1. Patrick Evoe (USA) 8:42:44
2. Chris McDonald (AUS) 8:52:59
3. Thomas Gerlach (USA) 9:02:42
4. Jason Shortis (AUS) 9:21:24
5. Chris Hauth (USA) 9:21:45 * M40-44
6. Thomas Maliszewski (USA) 9:28:50
7. Michael Starkey (USA) 9:29:19 * M30-34
8. Jerome Bresson (CAN) 9:30:49 * M30-34
9. Matthew Coleman (USA) 9:31:51 * M30-34
10. Matias Palavecino (USA) 9:33:24 * M30-34

Women

1. Bree Wee (USA) 9:36:27:
2. Jackie Arendt (USA) 9:38:14
3. Terra Castro (USA) 9:53:27
4. Heather Gollnick (USA) 9:55:25
5. April Gellatly (USA) 10:09:45