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Ben Hoffman, Radka Vodickova break the tape at Rev3 Branson
Ben Hoffman of the U.S. ran away the men’s field and Czech Republic Olympian Radka Vodickova used a well-balanced race to dominate the women at the half distance Rev3 Branson.
Hoffman swam 26:07, 33 seconds behind super fish Eric Limkemann and 3 second better than Michael Poole, 44 seconds ahead of Rev 3 Maine winner Leon Griffin and 1:36 ahead of Kevin Collington. Hoffman kept his cool with a 4th-best 2:23:30 bike split that gave back a minute to Collington, 32 second to Griffin, and matched Michael Poole and Rev3 star Richie Cunningham in his first race back after serious bike crash injuries in July in Boulder.
Hoffman ended the suspense with a race-best 1:13:31 run that brought him to the finish in 4:05:00 with a 2:18 margin of victory over runner-up Collington (1:15:27 run) and 3:45 over 3rd-place finisher Griffin (1:17:09 run). Cunningham managed a 3rd-fastest 1:16:46 run to finish 7th.
Vodickova’s 26:37 swim split was 19 seconds behind leader Jennifer Spieldenner of the U.S. and gave her a 3:58 cushion on strong cyclist Rachel McBride of Canada. McBride’s race-best 2:40:47 bike split vaulted the Canadian to a 25 second lead on Vodickova at T2. Vodickova then sealed the deal with a race-fastest 1:22:45 run that brought her home in 4:36:38 with a 4:33 margin on runner-up Jennifer Spieldenner. After her great bike split, McBride cooled down with a 1:29:01 run that placed her 3rd overall.
Ben Hoffman of the U.S. ran away the men’s field and Czech Republic Olympian Radka Vodickova used a well-balanced race to dominate the women at the half distance Rev3 Branson.
Hoffman swam 26:07, 33 seconds behind super fish Eric Limkemann and 3 second better than Michael Poole, 44 seconds ahead of Rev 3 Maine winner Leon Griffin and 1:36 ahead of Kevin Collington. Hoffman kept his cool with a 4th-best 2:23:30 bike split that gave back a minute to Collington, 32 second to Griffin, and matched Michael Poole and Rev3 star Richie Cunningham in his first race back after serious bike crash injuries in July in Boulder.
Hoffman ended the suspense with a race-best 1:13:31 run that brought him to the finish in 4:05:00 with a 2:18 margin of victory over runner-up Collington (1:15:27 run) and 3:45 over 3rd-place finisher Griffin (1:17:09 run). Cunningham managed a 3rd-fastest 1:16:46 run to finish 7th.
Vodickova’s 26:37 swim split was 19 seconds behind leader Jennifer Spieldenner of the U.S. and gave her a 3:58 cushion on strong cyclist Rachel McBride of Canada. McBride’s race-best 2:40:47 bike split vaulted the Canadian to a 25 second lead on Vodickova at T2. Vodickova then sealed the deal with a race-fastest 1:22:45 run that brought her home in 4:36:38 with a 4:33 margin on runner-up Jennifer Spieldenner. After her great bike split, McBride cooled down with a 1:29:01 run that placed her 3rd overall.
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Rev3 Branson
Branson, Missouri
September 22, 2013
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.
Results
Men
1. Ben Hoffman (USA) 4:05:00
2. Kevin Collington (USA) 4:07:18
3. Leon Griffin (AUS) 4:08:45
4. Eric Limkemann (USA) 4:10:12
5. Michael Poole (USA) 4:12:31
7. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 4:15:04
Women
1. Radka Vodickova (CZE) 4:36:38
2. Jennifer Spieldenner (USA) 4:41:11
3. Rachel McBride (CAN) 4:42:34
4. Jessica Meyers (USA) 4:46:07
5. Rebeccah Wassner (USA) 4:46:55
Big Sexy Chris McDonald and Asa Lundstrom win Ironman Lake Tahoe
This new Ironman began with temperature at a shivery 43 degrees Fahrenheit, the altitude a lung sapping 6,259 feet and there was 5,383 feet of climbing awaiting on the bike leg. The scenery was a gorgeous backdrop to some serious racing with a few notable pros – including Ironman rookie Angela Naeth -- ready to fight it out.
When the day was done, the times reflected the challenge of the course as Big Sexy Chris McDonald of Australia won in a time of 8:55:14 – his 6th Ironman victory coming just a month after his win at Louisville. Key proof of the difficulty was the bike split times – 4:55:42 for McDonald and 4:55:55 for renowned cyclist Maik Twelsiek of Germany. Twelsiek, who broke into the lead with a 51:47 swim and held it through the bike and 16 miles into the run, hit the finish just 2:39 behind McDonald to claim the runner-up slot. The difference was the run – McDonald posted a 2:59:40 to Twelsiek’s 3:03:33. Australian Joe Gambles, who fell victim to the altitude, the climbs and the Ironman distance, could only manage a 5:02:43 bike split and a 3:02:24 run and thus took 3rd – 7:41 back of McDonald.
Branson, Missouri
September 22, 2013
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.
Results
Men
1. Ben Hoffman (USA) 4:05:00
2. Kevin Collington (USA) 4:07:18
3. Leon Griffin (AUS) 4:08:45
4. Eric Limkemann (USA) 4:10:12
5. Michael Poole (USA) 4:12:31
7. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 4:15:04
Women
1. Radka Vodickova (CZE) 4:36:38
2. Jennifer Spieldenner (USA) 4:41:11
3. Rachel McBride (CAN) 4:42:34
4. Jessica Meyers (USA) 4:46:07
5. Rebeccah Wassner (USA) 4:46:55
Big Sexy Chris McDonald and Asa Lundstrom win Ironman Lake Tahoe
This new Ironman began with temperature at a shivery 43 degrees Fahrenheit, the altitude a lung sapping 6,259 feet and there was 5,383 feet of climbing awaiting on the bike leg. The scenery was a gorgeous backdrop to some serious racing with a few notable pros – including Ironman rookie Angela Naeth -- ready to fight it out.
When the day was done, the times reflected the challenge of the course as Big Sexy Chris McDonald of Australia won in a time of 8:55:14 – his 6th Ironman victory coming just a month after his win at Louisville. Key proof of the difficulty was the bike split times – 4:55:42 for McDonald and 4:55:55 for renowned cyclist Maik Twelsiek of Germany. Twelsiek, who broke into the lead with a 51:47 swim and held it through the bike and 16 miles into the run, hit the finish just 2:39 behind McDonald to claim the runner-up slot. The difference was the run – McDonald posted a 2:59:40 to Twelsiek’s 3:03:33. Australian Joe Gambles, who fell victim to the altitude, the climbs and the Ironman distance, could only manage a 5:02:43 bike split and a 3:02:24 run and thus took 3rd – 7:41 back of McDonald.
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While there was much anticipation for Ironman 70.3 star Angela Naeth’s Ironman debut and expectation that decorated endurance veteran Catriona Morrison would return to her winning form, two European competitors waged a fierce back and forth battle that was not settled until the final mile on a course that was reminiscent of tough tests like Embrunman and Nice.
Jeanne Collonge of France came to this race with a fine resume that included two straight victories at the Iron-distance Embrunman in 2012 and 2013 and a 2nd place at Pays d’Aix 70.3 in 2012. Asa Lundstrom, a Swedish national who lives in Denmark and is pursuing a medical degree, was 2nd at Ironman Austria and at the Bilbao Triathlon this year, and she won Ironman Sweden in 2012.
While Dede Griesbauer of the U.S. swam 55:12 and was the only woman to crack the 1 hour mark, Lundstrom, Collonge and Angela Naeth all came out of the swim within a minute of the 1:01 mark and charged into the lead on the bike while Morrison faded out of the picture with a 5:44:27 ride and Griesbauer fell even further back after a 5:55:01 split.
Lundstrom led into T2 with Collonge 1:43 back and Naeth 4:30 in arrears. The Swedish star held the lead to Mile 5.7 when Collonge took over while Naeth slowly fell back. Collonge established a 2 minute lead and maintained the gap until Mile 24 when Lundstrom had an infusion of energy and passed Collonge in the final mile, crossing the line in 9:58:53 with a 50 seconds margin of victory. Morrison, closing with a 2nd-best 3:10:57 marathon, took 3rd in 10:03:38. Top runner Elizabeth Lyles, on the strength of a race-best 3:09:05 marathon, took 4th and Naeth, hanging in on a tough day, placed 5th.
Jeanne Collonge of France came to this race with a fine resume that included two straight victories at the Iron-distance Embrunman in 2012 and 2013 and a 2nd place at Pays d’Aix 70.3 in 2012. Asa Lundstrom, a Swedish national who lives in Denmark and is pursuing a medical degree, was 2nd at Ironman Austria and at the Bilbao Triathlon this year, and she won Ironman Sweden in 2012.
While Dede Griesbauer of the U.S. swam 55:12 and was the only woman to crack the 1 hour mark, Lundstrom, Collonge and Angela Naeth all came out of the swim within a minute of the 1:01 mark and charged into the lead on the bike while Morrison faded out of the picture with a 5:44:27 ride and Griesbauer fell even further back after a 5:55:01 split.
Lundstrom led into T2 with Collonge 1:43 back and Naeth 4:30 in arrears. The Swedish star held the lead to Mile 5.7 when Collonge took over while Naeth slowly fell back. Collonge established a 2 minute lead and maintained the gap until Mile 24 when Lundstrom had an infusion of energy and passed Collonge in the final mile, crossing the line in 9:58:53 with a 50 seconds margin of victory. Morrison, closing with a 2nd-best 3:10:57 marathon, took 3rd in 10:03:38. Top runner Elizabeth Lyles, on the strength of a race-best 3:09:05 marathon, took 4th and Naeth, hanging in on a tough day, placed 5th.
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Ironman Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
September 22, 2013
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Results
Men
1. Chris McDonald (AUS) 8:55:14
2. Maik Twelsiek (GER) 8:57:53
3. Joe Gambles (AUS) 9:02:55
4. Kirill Kotsegarov (EST) 9:04:39
5. Kevin Taddonio (USA) 9:09:09
Women
1. Asa Lundstrom (SWE) 9:58:53
2. Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 9:59:43
3. Catriona Morrison (GBR) 10:03:38
4. Elizabeth Lyles (USA) 10:08:41.
5. Angela Naeth (CAN) 10:10:47
Filip Ospaly and Susie Hignett top Ironman 70.3 Pays D’Aix
Filip Ospaly of the Czech Republic dominated the field and Susie Hignett outran fellow Brit Tamsin Lewis to win Ironman 70.3 Pays d’Aix in beautiful Provence, France.
Ospaly emerged from the water with a 3rd-fastest 22:24 split which was about 30 seconds behind leading swimmers Manuel Küng of Switzerland and ITU veteran Stephane Poulat of France -- and was six seconds ahead of powerful cyclist Bjorn Andersson of Sweden.
Nice to see Andersson, the Swedish bear with the powerful cycling engine, back on form as he posted a race-best 2:15:36 split which put him into T2 first by a 15 seconds margin over Küng (2:38:21 split), 1:43 on Bertrand Billard (2:39:49) and 1:58 on Ospaly (2:40:04).
While Victor Del Corral posted a sizzling, race-best 1:08:56 half marathon, he could only advance to 3rd place as Ospaly’s 2nd-fastest 1:10:57 run brought him home in a winning 4:05:00 time. Albert Moreno Molins’ 3rd-best 1:11:16 run advanced him to 2nd, 2:44 behind Ospaly and 1:05 ahead of Del Corral. After his dominating bike split, Andersson faded to 16th with a 1:29:16 run.
The women’s race was a race-long duel between two determined Britons. While Rahel Küng (22:34) and Georgie Rutherford (25:32) swam faster, Tamsin Lewis and Susie Hignett came out 1 second apart in 25:58 and 25:59 respectively. Lewis and Hignett left the rest of the field well behind with 2:35:29 and 2:36:36 bike splits. Lewis hung on to her lead until Hignett pulled inexorably away with a race-fastest 1:20:36 run that brought her to the finish in 4:28:21 with a 1:18 margin of victory over Lewis.
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
September 22, 2013
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Results
Men
1. Chris McDonald (AUS) 8:55:14
2. Maik Twelsiek (GER) 8:57:53
3. Joe Gambles (AUS) 9:02:55
4. Kirill Kotsegarov (EST) 9:04:39
5. Kevin Taddonio (USA) 9:09:09
Women
1. Asa Lundstrom (SWE) 9:58:53
2. Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 9:59:43
3. Catriona Morrison (GBR) 10:03:38
4. Elizabeth Lyles (USA) 10:08:41.
5. Angela Naeth (CAN) 10:10:47
Filip Ospaly and Susie Hignett top Ironman 70.3 Pays D’Aix
Filip Ospaly of the Czech Republic dominated the field and Susie Hignett outran fellow Brit Tamsin Lewis to win Ironman 70.3 Pays d’Aix in beautiful Provence, France.
Ospaly emerged from the water with a 3rd-fastest 22:24 split which was about 30 seconds behind leading swimmers Manuel Küng of Switzerland and ITU veteran Stephane Poulat of France -- and was six seconds ahead of powerful cyclist Bjorn Andersson of Sweden.
Nice to see Andersson, the Swedish bear with the powerful cycling engine, back on form as he posted a race-best 2:15:36 split which put him into T2 first by a 15 seconds margin over Küng (2:38:21 split), 1:43 on Bertrand Billard (2:39:49) and 1:58 on Ospaly (2:40:04).
While Victor Del Corral posted a sizzling, race-best 1:08:56 half marathon, he could only advance to 3rd place as Ospaly’s 2nd-fastest 1:10:57 run brought him home in a winning 4:05:00 time. Albert Moreno Molins’ 3rd-best 1:11:16 run advanced him to 2nd, 2:44 behind Ospaly and 1:05 ahead of Del Corral. After his dominating bike split, Andersson faded to 16th with a 1:29:16 run.
The women’s race was a race-long duel between two determined Britons. While Rahel Küng (22:34) and Georgie Rutherford (25:32) swam faster, Tamsin Lewis and Susie Hignett came out 1 second apart in 25:58 and 25:59 respectively. Lewis and Hignett left the rest of the field well behind with 2:35:29 and 2:36:36 bike splits. Lewis hung on to her lead until Hignett pulled inexorably away with a race-fastest 1:20:36 run that brought her to the finish in 4:28:21 with a 1:18 margin of victory over Lewis.
