2021 Triathlete of the Year: Age group women

For many age group athletes, the last two years have come and gone with limited, if not non-existent, racing opportunities. There were a few notable age-group performances in 2021, though, as some were able to find a race here in Canada, or get themselves out of the country to compete.

One of those was Toronto’s Miranda Tomenson, who won her 35 to 39 age group at both Ironman Tulsa in May (10:07:20) and at Ironman Cozumel in November (9:16:12). In between those two races she also was the overall winner of Ironman 70.3 Muskoka (4:35:13).

The age-category win in Cozumel came after Tomenson had to regroup after the cancellation of Ironman California in October.

 

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Having to hold off an extra month didn’t seem to phase her much, though, as she blasted to a 43:24 swim (the Cozumel swim course is down current, so times are traditionally fast) followed by a 4:53:50 bike and a 3:33:10 run in the hot and humid conditions.

Her Ironman performances netted her the top spot in the 35 to 39 ranking for 2021, too.

A former pro triathlete, Tomenson now competes as an age group athlete while running her own business, Tomenson Performance and Wellness, and also working as a massage therapist. The busy schedule and the COVID pandemic don’t seem to have slowed her down much, and we’ll look forward to seeing her compete more in 2022 – especially at the worlds in Kona.

Honourable mentions:

• We reported on Elizabeth Model’s 100th Ironman race earlier this year – she would go on to compete in a few more full-distance races after that. Model is now one of only two women on the planet who have reached the century mark of full-distance races.
• Edmonton’s Kim Raine also had a speedy day in Cozumel – the 60-year-old won her age group in 11:56:27.
• Delta, B.C.’s Patricia Harris won the 65 to 69 age group at Ironman Arizona in 13:11:42.