Andrew Starykowicz continues to prove that a triathlon can be won on the bike. Starky did it again today at Steelhead 70.3 in Benton Harbor, Michigan as his sizzling 1:56:48 bike split was 7:56 faster than the next-best effort of TJ Tollakson. After he staked himself to an 8:40 to 8:50 lead on four chasers, Starykowicz’s 1:20:30 half marathon gave back just 6:32 to the best run of the day.
Thus Starky combined a race-best 26:17 swim, that dominating 1:56:48 bike split, and a just-fast-enough 1:20:30 run to finish in 3:47:10 with a 1:59 margin of victory over Joe Gambles of Australia and 2:18 over 3rd place finisher Taylor Reid of Canada.
Starky may have an unusual balance of triathletic power, but his very good swim, all-powerful bike and hang-on run has proved very successful, In 2019 he placed 3rd at Ironman Texas, 1st at Texas 70.3, 2nd at Ironman New Zealand and 2nd at the Challenge Wanaka half. In 2018, he won the swim-canceled Waco 69.1 and the Chattanooga 70.3 and placed 2nd at Monterrey 70.3.
Jackie Hering has been improving every race this year – 5th at St. George 70.3 3rd at Ironman 70.3 Texas and now a win at Steelhead 70.3, which is an improvement over Hering’s runner-up finish at this race last year.
She started her day with a women’s 4th-best 27:30 swim that left her 1:36 behind top swimmer Rachel Olson. Hering charged to second place at T2, one second behind Meredith Kessler, with a women’s-fastest 2:17:41 bike split. By 6.3 miles of the half marathon, Hering seized control of the race, carving out a 3:37 lead on Kessler, 7:59 on Dede Griesbauer, and 11:59 on swim leader Rachel Olson. After completing a by-far women’s best 1:18:11 run split (2:19 faster than men’s overall winner Andrew Starykowicz) Hering finished in 4:08:21 with an 8:12 margin of victory over Kessler and 15:19 over 3rd place woman Griesbauer.
Ironman 70.3 Steelhead:
Benton Harbor, Michigan
June 30, 2019
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.
Results
Men
1. Andrew Starykowicz (USA) 3:47:10 S 26:17 T1 1:54 B 1:56:48 T2 1:43 R 1:20:30
2. Joe Gambles (AUS) 3:49:09 S 26:21 T1 1:53 B 2:05:24 T2 1:35 R 1:13:58
3. Taylor Reid (CAN) 3:49:28 S 26:23 T1 1:45 B 2:05:34 T2 1:25 R 1:14:23
4. TJ Tollakson (USA) 3:53:43 S 26:48 T1 2:09 B 2:04:44 T2 1:50 R 1:18:13
5. Andre Lopes (BRA) 3:55:01 S 26:26 T1 1:55 B 2:05:48 T2 1:37 R 1:19:17
Women
1. Jackie Hering (USA) 4:08:21 S 28:29 T1 2:18 B 2:17:41 T2 1:43 R 1:18:11
2. Meredith Kessler (USA) 4:16:33 S 27:40 T1 2:15 B 2:18:34 T2 1:27 R 1:26:40
3. Dede Griesbauer (USA) 4:23:40 S 28:26 T1 2:14 B 2:17:50 T2 2:04 R 1:33:07
4. Lauren Barnett (USA) 4:25:09 S 32:25 T1 1:58 B 2:24:08 T2 1:49 R 1:24:51
5. Christine Cross (USA) 4:26:01 S 31:00 T1 2:00 B 2:21:18 T2 1:40 R 1:30:05
