Sunday preview: Canadians at Ironman 70.3 Austin and Los Cabos
The majority of Canadian long course pros are down south right now for various races — some at the Island House Invitational Triathlon and others taking on Ironman 70.3 Austin and Los Cabos tomorrow. We’ve got separate coverage going on for the IHIT but here’s our preview for the 70.3 races, which are each hosting stacked fields including some potential podium finishers from Canada.
Ironman 70.3 Austin
After his top 10 finish at last week’s Ironman 70.3 Miami, Taylor Reid leads the Canadian men at Ironman 70.3 Austin. Reid had great success at this race last year, placing third behind two of the most dominant men in long course racing, so he’ll be aiming to land on the podium again and hopefully better his position in this year’s race.
Joining Reid on the men’s side are Dylan Gleeson, who has focused his season on half and full distance racing, Mikael Staer Nathan and Brian Hrynkow.
On the women’s side, Melanie McQuaid is also racing back-to-back weekends, fresh off her sixth place at last weekend’s Ironman 70.3 Miami. McQuaid proves to be in grew form as she makes her comeback from almost an entire year of injury and recovery. She faces some tough international and American women in the field tomorrow, but it’s likely we’ll see her pull out another top 10 finish. Alexandra Gordichuk from Calgary races as well.
Ironman 70.3 Los Cabos
Cody Beals will end his 2016 season with racing in Los Cabos and though the field is stacked this weekend he’s got his eye on top of the podium and a track record proving he’s capable of closing out the year with a final win. Alex VanderLinden, who recently won Barrelman, as well as Stephen Kilshaw and James Cook make up the rest of the Canadian men. On the international side, Andy Potts and Australia’s Ritchie Cunningham headline the field.
Angela Naeth returns to 70.3 racing after a year of battling a serious foot injury after Kona. Naeth has some of the most Ironman and 70.3 podium finishes to her name of any Canadian triathlete. She is joined by Kirsty Jahn, Sara Gross and Sue Huse, who won her first 70.3 race earlier this month. This year’s Ironman World Championship third place finisher Heather Jackson headlines the women’s field.
