Weekend round-up: No million dollar prizes, Roberts and Kienle set course records in Cozumel
This weekend saw some of the last big races on the 2017 calendar take place across the globe. There was no shortage of excitement with battles to the finish line and race favourites fading in the late stages. Here’s our round-up:
No million dollar prizes for Gomez and Ryf
After long seasons of racing, Gomez and Ryf we’re able to take the wins at the third stop on the Triple Crown series and so there were no million dollar prize winners this year. In his 70.3 debut, ITU star Kristian Blummenfelt took the win over Terenze Bozzone and Holly Lawrence stormed back after her DNF at 70.3 Worlds to take the win in a close race with Germany’s Anne Haug:
Course records fall in Cozumel
Sebastian Kienle was thrilled to end his season on a high note by winning Ironman Cozumel with a course record after disappointment in Kona where he took fourth. On the women’s side, Lisa Roberts had a come-from-behind victory that saw her set a new course record, too. Roberts won Ironman Louisville last month, but just weeks ago publicly acknowledged having received an anti-doping violation warning and being stripped of her third place finish at Challenge Roth. You can read her personal statement here.
This was the 38-year-old’s fastest Ironman to date, in a time of 8:54:00. It was her fifth sub-three hour marathon this year as well in a time of 2:59:20.
Canadian women had showings in Cozumel. Kirsty Jahn came second, getting her first sub-nine hour Ironman in a time of 8:58:27. Sue Huse took fifth (in her Ironman debut). Rachel McBride, who led for most of the race and set a bike course record but faded towards the end, took seventh. Steph Corker took 11th.
