Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship
O'Donnell and Steffen come out on top.
Tim O’Donnell (USA) led from start to finish to win the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship today at Phuket, Thailand. Switzerland’s Caroline Steffen essentially did the same in the women’s race to win her fourth Ironman 70.3 title of 2010.
O’Donnell, who became ill on Wednesday, swam 24:34, biked 2:13:04, and ran 1:19:43 to take the win in 3:59:42. Italy’s Massimo Cigano moved up 12 spots from this swim position to get second (4:01:52), and Hideo Fukui of Japan got third (4:04:00).
Steffen swam 26:31, hammered the rest of the field with the top bike of 2:23:02 (4 minutes better than the next best time by Belinda Granger), then ran 1:27:17 to stay ahead for the win (4:20:13), and remain undefeated at Ironman 70.3 races this year. Australia’s Melissa Rollison (4:24:53) ran her way past Granger (4:30:49) to claim second place. Canada’s Samantha McGlone lost time during the swim but moved steadily through field to get fifth (4:36:52).
Toronto’s David Benwell claimed fifth in the men’s 50-54 category with a time of 5:35:20.
Top 10 Men
1. Timothy P O’Donnell (USA)Â 3:59:42
2. Massimo Cigana (ITA)Â 4:01:52
3. Hideo Fukui (JPN)Â 4:04:00
4. Domenico Passuello (ITA)Â 4:06:51
5. Chris Legh (AUS)Â 4:07:25
6. Paul Ambrose (GBR)Â 4:07:53
7. Bryan Rhodes (NZL)Â 4:10:15
8. Jan Raphael (GER)Â 4:10:24
9. Fredrik Croneborg (SWE)Â 4:13:33
10. Alejandro Santamaria (ESP)Â 4:18:18
Top 10 Women
1. Caroline Steffen (SUI)Â 4:20:13
2. Melissa Rollison (AUS)Â 4:24:53
3. Belinda Granger (AUS)Â 4:30:49
4. Michelle Wu (AUS)Â 4:32:13
5. Samantha McGlone (CAN)Â 4:36:52
6. Diana Riesler (GER)Â 4:37:29
7. Rachael Paxton (AUS)Â 4:38:55
8. Ruth Nivon Machoud (SUI)Â 4:41:04
9. Emma Ruth Smith (GBR)Â 4:43:39
10. Francesca Tibaldi (ITA)Â 4:44:01
