Callum Millward of New Zealand edged Ben Hoffman of the U.S. by 2 seconds for the men’s win and Ellie Salthouse of Australia finished with an 8:31 margin of victory over Jeanni Seymour of South Africa at Ironman 70.3 Boulder.
Men
Millward started with a 1:20 deficit to Sam Appleton of Australia after the swim, followed with a 3rd-best 2:01:32 bike split that left him in 4th place at T2, 4:43 behind Appleton and seconds behind Matt Chrabot of the U.S. and Hoffman. Racing 7 days after win at Santa Rosa 70.3, Appleton struggled to hold on to his lead until the 8th mile of the run in 85 degree heat, whereupon Hoffman, Millward and Chrabot cruised past in tight formation. At Mile 9.5, Hoffman, Millward and Chrabot ran elbow to elbow at the lead, while Appleton fell 49 seconds back.
After Chrabot fell a minute back, Hoffman and Millward stuck together right to the carpet, where the New Zealander concluded a 2nd-fastest 1:16:47 half marathon, nipping the U.S. star by 2 seconds in a time of 3:47:04, with Chrabot taking 3rd place, 1:04 behind the winner.
Appleton, his tank dry a week after his great race in Santa Rosa, ran 1:25:29 to finish 4th in 3:51:06.
The win was a return to top form by Millward, who started 2018 with a 5th at Hell of the West, 2nd at Busselton 70.3, 10th at Ironman Cairns and a faulty tire valve that led to a DNF at Ironman Canada, leaving the Kiwi fresh enough to take on Boulder 70.3.
The win was Millward's second at Boulder 70.3, after his 2015 triumph over Tim Don.
Women
Jeanni Seymour of South Africa led the women’s swim wave in Boulder Reservoir with a 25:32 split that gave her a 3 seconds lead on Rachel Olson, 4 seconds on Alicia Kaye of the U.S., 5 on Katy Evans of the U.S., 25 seconds on Salthouse, 27 seconds on Paula Findlay of Canada and 1:28 on Lesley Smith of the U.S.
By 7 miles into the bike leg, Salthouse burst ahead to lead Findlay by 7 seconds, Kaye by 17s, Seymour by 44s, and Olson by 1:26.
After 32 miles, Salthouse owned a 3:34 lead on Kaye, 3:36 on Seymour, 3:39 on Findlay and 8 minutes on Smith.
After a women’s-best 2:11:11 bike split, Salthouse held a 4:36 lead in Seymour, 5:17 on Findlay and Kaye, and 10:11 on Smith.
After a women’s-fastest 1:22:221 run, Salthouse finished in 4:03:56 with an 8:31 margin of victory over Seymour (1:26:25 run), and 13:28 on 3rd place Smith (1:25:27 run).
Salthouse started 2018 with a 2nd at Pucon 70.3 and a 4th at Dubai 70.3 before a fallback 10th at Challenge the Championship. With a month to recoup and regenerate, Salthouse regained 2017 form that brought her a win at Miami 70.3 and 3rd at St. George 70.3.
Ironman 70.3 Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
August 4, 2018
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.
Results
Men
1. Callum Millward (NZL) 3:47:04 S 24:38 T1 1:49 B 2:01:32 T2 2:20 R 1:16:47
2. Ben Hoffman (USA) 3:47:06 S 25:21 T1 1:52 B 2:00:43 T2 2:28 R 1:16:45
3. Matt Chrabot (USA) 3:48:07 S 23:39 T1 1:41 B 2:02:31 T2 2:26 R 1:17:52
4. Sam Appleton (AUS) 3:51:06 S 23:18 T1 1:48 B 1:58:10 T2 2:23 R 1:25:29
5. Alex Libin (USA) 3:56:23 S 26:01 T1 1:53 B 2:04:09 T2 2:33 R 1:21:50
Women
1. Ellie Salthouse (AUS) 4:03:56 S 25:55 T1 1:42 B 2:11:11 T2 2:49 R 1:22:21
2. Jeanni Seymour (RSA) 4:12:27 S 25:31 T1 1:51 B 2:16:02 T2 2:40 R 1:26:25
3. Lesley Smith (USA) 4:17:24 S 26:58 T1 2:30 B 2:19:31 T2 3:00 R 1:25:27
4. Paula Findlay (CAN) 4:19:14 S 25:58 T1 1:52 B 2:16:15 T2 2:49 R 1:32:23
5. Alicia Kaye (USA) 4:20:09 S 25:34 T1 1:56 B 2:16:35 T2 2:56 R 1:33:10
