Canadian Age Groupers at Ironman 70.3 Panama

Bonnie Grundman of North York, Ontario and Raymond Levesque of Terrebonne, Quebec both won their respective age groups at Ironman 70.3 Panama.

Grundman, 54, won the women’s 50-54 category with a 30:41 swim, 3:05:39 bike, and a 2:02:05 run to cross the finish line in 5:47:16.

“Panama was one of the toughest races – Ironman included – that I have ever done,” said Grundman to Triathlon Magazine Canada. “Since the race started late we had the benefit of a strong current so the swim was fast. The bike course was extremely challenging. Very hilly, windy and hot with a lot of technical descents and fast cornering. I have been down in Clermont Florida since mid December off and on so I have had the benefit of some heat training and lots of hill climbing. That helped me a lot today. The run was beautiful with views of the Panama Canal all around you. Although the course is flat there is no shade and it got very windy in many of the open sections.”

Levesque, 62, topped the men 60-64 with a 30:59 swim, 2:51:49 bike, and a 1:55:01 run for a total time of 5:24:39.

Joanne Roberts, 47, of Waterloo, Ontario, placed fourth among women 45-49 (32:01, 3:16:02, 2:26:27 – 6:27:16), and Simon Roberts, 50, also of Waterloo, finished sixth in the men’s 50-54 category (32:26, 2:42:09, 2:07:56 – 5:31:08).