Weekend roundup: McBride and Elmore podium in Calgary, Wurtele wins Challenge Iceland
This weekend saw a successful running of the iconic Ironman Canada and brand new Ironman 70.3 Canada, with Andy Potts taking the win in the male-only pro field. Across the continent, a female-only pro field at Ironman Lake Placid saw Heather Jackson take the win and Canadian Caroline Martineau takes sixth overall.
The Ottawa Triathlon made its debut with Canadian short course nationals, where Joanna Brown and Russell Pennock were crowned the elite national champions in their fields.
In Parry Sound, Ontario it was husband-wife duo Richard and Heather Pady who won Ontario provincial cross triathlon championships at Xterra Parry Sound. They finished the full-course race — 1,500 m swim, 24 km bike and 9 km run — in 2:25:50 and 2:53:13 respectively.
Here’s the rest of our weekend roundup.
McBride and Elmore podium at Ironman 70.3 Calgary
Ironman 70.3 Calgary crowned two non-Canadian pro winners over the weekend, but on the women’s side Rachel McBride and Malindi Elmore were close on American Jennifer Spieldenner’s heels to round out the podium. McBride came in just four seconds behind Spieldenner’s winning time of 4:14:49 and Elmore was less than a minute later to take third in 4:15:35.
Happy to have made my friend @spielder work for that win and puke at the finish! Congrats on your win, girl. ? https://t.co/pMtXJjGaU2
— Rach McBride (@Rachel_McB) July 24, 2016
Another great event @ironmancalgary. 3rd today against some strong ladies @spielder @Rachel_McB @lizlylestri pic.twitter.com/Rf19iFfBPD
— Malindi Elmore (@MalindiElmore) July 24, 2016
Alexandra Gordichuk and Miranda Tomensen also placed in the pro women’s top 10.
On the men’s side, Nathan Killam was the first Canadian to cross the finish line in 3:55:39 to place fourth. He was followed by countryman Shawn Wilyman who placed sixth, Jordan Bryden who placed seventh, Jeff Symonds who placed eighth and James Cook in tenth to make up a mostly-Canadian top 10.
Some races are good, some don't go as planned. Stoked to go 4th place @ironmancalgary on the latter! #IMYYC https://t.co/ToouCD6Ff9
— Nathan Killam (@nathankillam) July 24, 2016
Wurtele wins Challenge Iceland
While her husband Trevor placed third at Ironman Canada, Heather Wurtele was across the Atlantic earning another win at the inaugural Challenge Iceland. The BC-native clocked 4:24:00 for the half distance race, coming in over eight minutes before runner-up Radka Vodickova. Canada’s Jenny Fletcher placed sixth in the women’s pro field.
