Emma Pallant and Bradley Weiss stormed to victory in the first edition of Ironman 70.3 Mossel Bay in South Africa, capping a busy racing season for the pair.

Pallant of Great Britain stormed into the lead after the swim leg and eventually crossed the finish line in 4:23:26, nine minutes ahead of South African Magda Mieuwoudt. Norwegian Julie Aspesletten was third in 4:43:31.

Weiss of South Africa took the lead with less than five kilometers to go on the run, passing for the final time countryman Matt Trautman in a duel that lasted the entire day. Weiss finished in 3:50:37 and Trautman crossed the line in 3:51:22. It was an all South African podium with Cameron MacNair finishing third in 4:06:27.

WOMEN’S RACE

South African Bridget Theunissen led the women out of the water with a 25:25 split. Only seven seconds behind was Pallant, who last weekend finished third at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.

Pallant took the lead on the bike almost immediately and came away with the fastest split of the women’s field in 2:30:25.

The British athlete wasn’t seriously challenged all day and turned in the fastest run split of the women’s field as well in 1:23:38. Nieuwoudt had the second fastest bike and run split of the day to finish second in 4:32:26. Aspesletten finished third after an even bike and run leg.

MEN’S RACE

The inaugural Men’s Ironman 70.3 Mossel Bay almost came down to the wire.

South African Keegan Cooke came out of the water in 23:44, leading a pack of three other swimmers. In that pack were both Trautman and Weiss, who battled for the rest of the race. Both men raced the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in October. Trautman had the fastest bike split of the day and built a 1:46 lead over Weiss by the start of the run.

However on the run Weiss slowly chipped away at Trautman’s lead. With around four kilometers to go Weiss passed Trautman for the lead and didn’t let up. Weiss finished 25 seconds ahead of Trautman. MacNair finished fifteen minutes back from the pair.

WOMEN’S RESULTS
1. Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) --4:23:26
2. Magda Nieuwoudt (RSA) -- 4:32:26
3. Julie Aspesletten (NOR) -- 4:43:31
4. Bridget Theunissen (RSA) -- 4:53:00
5. Vicky van der Merwe (RSA) -- 4:57:47

MEN’S RESULTS
1. Bradley Weiss (RSA) -- 3:50:37
2. Matt Trautman (RSA) -- 3:51:22
3. Cameron MacNair (RSA) -- 4:06:27
4. Adriaan Myburgh (RSA) -- 4:08:47
5. Keegan Cooke (RSA) -- 4:09:34