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The Chattanooga Times Free Press dubbed it “the closest finish in Ironman history,” so the enthusiasm is understandable. But in point of fact, the 1990 Ironman New Zealand finish line sprint won by Pauli Kiuru of Finland over Ken Glah of the U.S. has it beat. Kiuru’s official margin of victory was 1 second and the distance was 1 meter. Ironman Chattanooga photos show the margin of victory was several meters.
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Women
New Zealand native and Chattanooga resident Anna Cleaver led the women's swim in 42:49, with an 8 seconds lead on Christina Jackson of the U.S., and 1:39 to 1:41 on U.S. triathletes Katy Blakemore, Darbi Roberts and Kathryn Thomas. Top contenders Lester (+1:47) and Bree Wee of the U.S. (+2:57) were within feasible range.
But Lester, coming into this contest after a 4th at Wildflower and a 2nd place at Challenge Roth, was patiently stalking leaders Cleaver and Christina Jackson, and took over at mile 28. By the end of a women's-best 5:01:16 bike split over the challenging, hilly bike course, Lester carved out a 7:09 lead on Wee (2nd-best 5:07:02 bike split), 7:36 on Cleaver, 9:49 on Jackson, 14:45 on talented runner Kim Schwabenbauer, and 16:16 on Lisa Robert.
By 15 miles, Lester created a 15 minutes lead on Roberts and 15:31 on Schwabenbauer, and could easily cruise to the finish. After her women’s 3nd-best 3:05:05 run, Lester finished in 8:56:00 with a 12:46 margin on Roberts (3:01:04 marathon), and 18:11 on Schwabenbauer (3:08:28 run). Kristin Moeller of Germany made up for a 52:02 swim and 5:22:41 bike split with a women’s 2nd-best 3:01:15 run to finish 6th.
New Zealand native and Chattanooga resident Anna Cleaver led the women's swim in 42:49, with an 8 seconds lead on Christina Jackson of the U.S., and 1:39 to 1:41 on U.S. triathletes Katy Blakemore, Darbi Roberts and Kathryn Thomas. Top contenders Lester (+1:47) and Bree Wee of the U.S. (+2:57) were within feasible range.
But Lester, coming into this contest after a 4th at Wildflower and a 2nd place at Challenge Roth, was patiently stalking leaders Cleaver and Christina Jackson, and took over at mile 28. By the end of a women's-best 5:01:16 bike split over the challenging, hilly bike course, Lester carved out a 7:09 lead on Wee (2nd-best 5:07:02 bike split), 7:36 on Cleaver, 9:49 on Jackson, 14:45 on talented runner Kim Schwabenbauer, and 16:16 on Lisa Robert.
By 15 miles, Lester created a 15 minutes lead on Roberts and 15:31 on Schwabenbauer, and could easily cruise to the finish. After her women’s 3nd-best 3:05:05 run, Lester finished in 8:56:00 with a 12:46 margin on Roberts (3:01:04 marathon), and 18:11 on Schwabenbauer (3:08:28 run). Kristin Moeller of Germany made up for a 52:02 swim and 5:22:41 bike split with a women’s 2nd-best 3:01:15 run to finish 6th.
