Weekend round-up: Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship and Ironman 70.3 Taupo
Over the weekend, two Canadian female pros delivered top 10 results to close out the last of the pro races on the 2016 calendar. At the Ironman 70.3 Middle East championship in Bahrain, Kirsty Jahn continued her comeback from injury with a sixth place finish in the women’s field. In a similar fashion, Melanie McQuaid earned another top 10 finish with 10th at Ironman 70.3 Taupo in New Zealand. Both women had substantial time off from racing in the first part of the year due to injuries but have shown strong results in recent months.
Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship
Fresh off the win at last month’s Ironman 70.3 Punta del Este, Jahn clocked 4:19:06 in Bahrain in a strong field of female pros competing for a share of the $100,000 prize purse this weekend. Her splits across the three disciplines broke down as — 30:28 for the swim, 2:17:35 for the bike and 1:24:55 for the run for sixth place overall.
Canada’s Karen Thibodeau and Sue Huse also raced in Bahrain and placed 14th and 15th respectively. There were no Canadian men in the pro field.
Full results available here.
Members of the Bahrain Endurance 13, including Canadians Sara Gross and Brent McMahon, we’re on site for team engagements during the race weekend as well. They participated in events to help promote the sport in the Middle East, as well we met His Majesty Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain.
Ironman 70.3 Taupo
Melanie McQuaid delivered a strong 10th place in Taupo, New Zealand yesterday, clocking 4:56:4o. The women’s pro field included some top international women across the half distance, including overall winner Meredith Kessler. McQuaid had fast swim and bike times — 28:44 and 2:26:58 — before a 1:55:29 half marathon, which reflects her challenges in trains lately due to injury.
McQuaid was the sole Canadian pro racing in Taupo.
Full results available here.
