Cody Beals notches a debut win at the Welland Half Iron Triathlon

Paolina Allan collects her second title.

Rogerhospedales June 24, 2013

Cody Beals of Fergus, Ontario made a stunning Half Iron distance triathlon debut and Aurora’s Paolina Allan reclaimed a title she last won in 2011 at the fourth Welland Half Iron Triathlon on Sunday. The race also doubled as the Ontario Long Course Triathlon Championship.

Wolfgang Guembel of St. Catherines, the inaugural Welland Half Iron Triathlon champion, led all athletes out of the Welland Recreational Canal with a 24:55 – 2 km swim, after which the two-time defending champion Nigel Gray of Toronto, dominated the flat but extremely windy bike with a 2:05:25 clocking. However, no one was going to stop Beals from getting his victory. The 23 year old Beals ran an impressive 1:17:46 in the 30-degree plus heat and humidity to set the new course record of 3:58:32.

Top 5 Men

1	Cody BEALS	Fergus	3:58:32.1	M-EliteAG	26:43	2:11:24	1:17:46
2	Gray NIGEL	Toronto	4:06:49.6	M-Pro	28:24	2:05:25	1:29:32
3	Wolfgang GUEMBEL	St. Catherines	4:10:07.4	M-Pro	24:55	2:14:11	1:27:37
4	Alexander VANDER LINDEN	Chatham	4:13:10.6	M-Pro	28:14	2:18:02	1:24:09
5	Richard PADY	Mono	4:15:10.9	M-EliteAG	26:53	2:11:17	1:33:41

St. George’s Angela Quick, making her half iron distance debut, led all women after the swim (26:41), but the 2011 champion Paolina Allan soon roared to the front with the top ride of 2:22:15. Allan, who took a break from triathlon to focus on bike racing over the past few months, relied on her experience and mental toughness for the hot run and closed with a 1:40:43 split to take the victory in 4:37:50.

Top 5 Women

1	Paolina ALLAN	Aurora	4:37:50.1	F-Pro	31:41	2:22:15	1:40:43
2	Shannon KEMP	Aurora	4:43:20.5	F-EliteAG	33:33	2:25:51	1:39:27
3	Angela QUICK	St. George	4:51:12.2	F-Pro	26:41	2:36:51	1:44:13
4	Cindy LEWIS	Toronto	4:52:32.5	F-Pro	31:14	2:30:55	1:46:39
5	Jennifer NICOL	Toronto	4:55:37.0	F35-39	33:01	2:33:42	1:43:37