Ironman 70.3 Boise Saturday

The Ironman 70.3 Boise is this Saturday. With two Canadian pros doubling up on their success last weekend at the Hawaii 70.3, there is sure to be some great performances. Fresh off his win last weekend, Brent McMahon will again face three-time Ironman world champion Craig Alexander  who was disqualified last weekend for a wardrobe infraction (sleeves on his race kit were illegal for the non-wetsuit swim). Alexander would have been second behind McMahon. Fellow Canadians Trevor Wurtele and Jeff Symonds are sure to add depth to the race as will and two-time Ironman winner Luke Bell of Australia. Symonds told TMC, “I am very excited to get out and rock tomorrow!  The last five weeks of training have been amazing.  With Brent McMahon and Trevor Wurtele also in the field it should be a great day for the Canadian men. I expect to see a lot of red and white at the front of the field.” Newer Canadian pro Justin Birks will also tow the line.

Melanie McQuaid is also fresh off success in Honu where she was third. She will be joined by Janelle Morrison, Jenny Fletcher and Sue Huse on the Canadian front. Fletcher just raced Escape from Alcatraz where she was 10th. She told TMC, “I’m really excited to race here in Boise! It’s gonna be hot and dry tomorrow so reminds me a bit of Calgary summers. The swim is freezing but with the noon start we should warm up fast! It’s a good group of girls. Looking forward to testing myself at the 70.3 distance again after racing a shorter distance last weekend.”  American Liz Lyles  returns as the defending champion, but two-time Ironman 70.3 U.S. champion Meredith Kessler  is a local favourite.

Hot conditions and a late start at noon will add to the difficulty of the race. The 2 km swim takes place at Lucky Peak Reservoir, while sections of the 90 km bike course will be on highways and the run course will take athletes throughout downtown and on to the tree-lined Boise Greenbelt, finishing at Julie Davis Park.