The Canadian pros put together outstanding performances today at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside in California. The race was stacked with talent as six of the top 10 men rode sub 2:10 and ran sub 1:15. Lionel Sanders held on for a well-fought third place after leading the race for a bit following the top bike split of the day– 2:04:46. He ran the early part of the race shoulder to shoulder with Jan Frodeno who won in 3:47:08. Frodeno proved a recent bike crash has not held him back as he ran an incredible 1:10:48. American Andy Potts was second in 3:48:43. Sanders’s third place time was 3:49:19. Just behind him was compatriot Brent McMahon in 3:51:07. Taylor Reid, the youngest of the Canadian crew finished an impressive sixth in 3:55:30 after running 1:14:01. Trevor Wurtele was seventh in 4:56:19.
I went for it on the bike. Just couldn't hang with @janfrodeno and @Andy_Potts on the run. No regrets. Great race guys. Was a ton of fun.
— Lionel Sanders (@LSandersTri) March 28, 2015
The Canadian women were no less impressive. American Heather Jackson was first in 4:14:47 but Heather Wurtele grabbed second in 4:16:07. The two began the run together charging after then-race leader Holly Lawrence of Great Britain who raced a gutsy race with the fastest swim and bike. Canadian-born Alicia Kaye was fourth in 4:20:01 followed closely by Angela Naeth who had to serve a penalty and lost time but rode the second fastest bike split of the day, finishing in 4:21:33. Rachel McBride kept close to her fellow countrywoman coming in behind Naeth in sixth in a time of 4:23:59. Melanie McQuaid grabbed eleventh in 4:32:03.
Good ol fashioned butt kicking for me in 11th. Stoked Canada went 2 nd @TeamWurtele/4th @AliciaKayeTri/5th@AngelaNaeth/6th@Rachel_McB+ mens:
— Melanie McQuaid (@racergirlmel) March 28, 2015
Magali Tisseyre was ready for a great result but endured a mechanical on the bike and had to pull out.