Kelsey Withrow won it wire to wire and Collin Chartier pulled away from a duel with Brazilian Igor Amorelli in the second half of the run for a U.S. sweep of top honors at Ironman 70.3 Cartagena.
Women
Withrow posted a women’s-best 27:36 swim which gave her a 21 seconds lead on fellow U.S. rival Laurel Wassner and 1:30 on Maira Alejandra Varga and Sandra Cather while strong cyclists-runners Susana Guillen and Luisa Zapata emerged from the water in 5th and 6th places, 5 minutes back of the leader.
On her way to a decisive, women’s-best bike split, Withrow opened a 7:17 lead on Guillen and 11:22 on Laurel Wassner by the 28 mile mark. Concluding a 2:25:26 bike runaway – 9 minutes better than her nearest rival – Withrow began the run with an unassailable gap on her pursuers.
After women’s second-fastest 1:32:25 half marathon, Withrow finished in 4:30:17 with am 8:20 margin of victory over Guillen (women’s-best 1:32:11 run split) and 11:11 over 3rd place finisher Wassner.
Withrow was thrilled with her race as she posted in Facebook: "Yay!! Very excited to take the win at Allianz IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena. This race is HOT and amazing all at the same time. Thank you to the volunteers and the huge crowds throughout the run course. Don’t think I could have made it with out that energy! ???????? Also congrats to @susanagr28 and @athletestyle for the podium finishes!
Men
Despite a recent separated shoulder, Chartier led the pro men’ swim wave with a 24:17 split , which gave him a slim lead on a pack of 8 including Brazilians Amorelli,, Bruno Matheus, Fernando Toldi and Joe Maloy of the U.S.
Halfway through the 90 kilometer bike leg, Chartier and Amorelli broke away from a chase pack of six men including Paulo Maciel, Kevin Collington, Matheus, Toldi, Maloy and Eduardo Londono.
After a race-best 1:58:33 bike split, Amorelli arrived at T2 with a 30 seconds lead on Chartier while the rest of the field lagged several minutes arrears.
After a second-best 1:17:03 run split, Chartier finished in 3:43:39 with a 3:07 margin of victory over Amorelli (1:20:75 run split) and 7:16 over 3rd place finisher Matheus.
Ironman 70.3 Cartagena
Cartagena, Colombia
December 1, 2019
S 1.2 mi./ B 56 mi / R 13.1 mi.
Results
Women
1. Kelsey Withrow (USA) 4:30:17 S 27:36 T1 2:37 B 2:25:26 T2 2:14 R 1:32:25
2. Susana Guillen (COL) 4:38:37 S 30:19 T1 2:36 B 2:32:04 T2 1:28 R 1:32:11
3. Laurel Wassner (USA) 4:41:28 S 27:56 T1 2:24 B 2:34:43 T2 1:39 R 1:34:47
4. M.A.V. Vallejo (COL) 4:55:06 S 29:08 T1 2:22 B 2:35:34 T2 1:26 R 1:46:38 R
5. L.F. Zapata (COL) 4:57:04 S 32:44 T1 2:29 B 2:47:19 T2 1:15 R 1:33:20
Men
1. Collin Chartier (USA) 3:43:39 S 24:17 T1 1:55 B 1:59:23 T2 1:03 R 1:17:03
2. Igor Amorelli (BRA) 3:46:46 S 24:25 T1 2:07 B 1:58:33 T2 1:19 R 1:20:75
3. Bruno Matheus (BRA) 3:50:55 S 24:32 T1 1:58 B 2:09:03 T2 00:57 R 1:14:27
4. Fernando Toldi (BRA) S 24:28 T1 1:57 B 2:08:56 T2 1:02 R 1:17:15
5. Joe Maloy (USA) 3:55:51 S 24:27 T1 2:07 B 2:08:55 T2 1:22 R 1:19:02
