Lyles takes IM Wisconsin
Liz Lyles overcame her usual swim deficit with a strong bike leg and a women’s-best marathon to earn her fourth career Ironman victory by a 9:52 margin at Wisconsin.
The win follows Lyles’ victory at the Ironman South American Regional Championship in Brazil in May.
In a women pros only race, Dr. Amanda Stevens charged to a 4:37 lead with a race-best 54:57 swim in Lake Menona. In her wake were Katie Thomas and Christine Hammond at 4:37 and 4:38 behind, Leslie Miller (+6:28), Lyles (+7:39), Alyssa Godesky (+9:07) and Molly Roohi (+12:25).
After 18 miles, Stevens led Katie Thomas by 3:23, Hammond by 4:54, Lyles by 6:27 and Miller by 9:32. At 30 miles, Lyles passed Hammond for 3rd, still 6:20 back of the leader. By mile 60, Stevens held on to a shrinking lead – 1:15 on Thomas and 2:47 on Lyles. At Mile 70, Thomas drew within 30 seconds Stevens while Lyles made incremental gains to within 2 minutes.
By Mile 100, Thomas made the kill and opened a 2:55 gap on Stevens and 4:35 on Lyles.
After her race-best 5:14:34 bike split, Thomas arrived at T2 with a 4:08 lead on Stevens (5:23:13 bike split) and 4:46 on Lyles, who rode a 2nd-fastest 5:15:45 split. Hammond was 4th, 12:29 arrears and Miller 5th, 14:25 behind the leader.
Lyles quickly went to work on the run, taking a 1:26 lead on Thomas, 6:01 on Stevens and 12:03 on Miller at Mile 6.4. At the halfway point of the marathon, Lyles increased her lead to 6:18 on Thomas, 11:21 on Stevens and 12:54 on Miller. By Mile 17, Leslie Miller passed Stevens for 3rd place, 12:27 back of the leader.
Running strong on the way to a 2nd-fastest 3:08:24 split, Miller passed Thomas for 2nd place at Mile 20. By Mile 22, Lyles was in full control, 11:24 ahead of Miller and 13:00 on Thomas.
After a race-best 3:08:10 marathon, Lyles crossed the line in 9:33:47 with a 9:52 margin on Miller (3:08:24 run) and 15:40 on 3rd-place Thomas (3:28:14 run). Godesky took 4th in 3:53:44 and Stevens hung on with a 3:32:05 marathon to finish 5th, 24:33 behind Lyles.
Ironman Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
September 11, 2016
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Results
Women Pros
1. Liz Lyles (USA) 9:33:47 $20,000
2. Leslie Miller (USA) 9:43:39 $10,000
3. Katie Thomas (USA) 9:49:27 $6,500
4. Alyssa Godesky (USA) 9:53:44 $5,000
5. Amanda Stevens (USA) 9:58:20 $3,000
