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Jodie Swallow goes six for six at Ironman 70.3 South Africa

January 25, 2016
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Credit: Bahrain Endurance Media
Credit: Bahrain Endurance Media

Britain’s Jodie Swallow of the Bahrain Endurance 13 claimed her sixth title at Ironman 70.3 South Africa on Sunday. She has now won the event each of the six times she’s toed the start line. Despite tough and rainy conditions, she also set a new course record of 4:23:29

Fellow defending champion, South Africa’s Matt Trautman, claimed the men’s title in a time of 4:01:53.

Swallow, known for her strong swimming, was in the lead by three minutes heading into T1, followed by Lucie Zelenkova and Susie Cheetham (GBR). On the bike, she grew her lead to 10 minutes and was able to hold on during the run for an overall stellar performance.

“I had some bad luck last year with over training and then the crash (before Ironman 70.3 Worlds),” she said. “But in life comparisons I am blessed to be healthy and happy so it is time to get over it and move forward. So happy to retain my sixth title here, a race thoroughly suited to me. But ‘the second hardest 70.3’ in the world is never easy.”

Swallow’s partner and fellow Bahrain Endurance teammate, James Cunnama, battled it out with Kyle Buckingham during the last few kilometres of the run, ending up in third place finish just a second behind the runner-up. With Cunnama and Buckingham both from South Africa, it was a historic all-South African podium on the men’s side.

Canada had two athletes racing at Ironman 70.3 South Africa: Benoit Dionne (50 – 54) and Rachel Lapierre (55 – 59).

Full results

Top 5 Men

1 TRAUTMAN, Matt ZAF 0:26:03 2:13:39 1:17:34 4:01:53
2 BUCKINGHAM, Kyle ZAF 0:25:18 2:14:45 1:24:23 4:09:11
3 CUNNAMA, James ZAF 0:26:08 2:18:42 1:19:49 4:09:12
4 MARAIS, Stuart ZAF 0:27:19 2:18:00 1:19:53 4:10:23
5 BACHOR, Konstantin DEU 0:26:05 2:18:57 1:24:04 4:13:55

Top 5 Women

1 SWALLOW, Jodie GBR 0:25:16 2:26:01 1:27:29 4:23:29
2 STIENEN, Astrid DEU 0:31:35 2:34:41 1:29:49 4:42:01
3 WATKINSON, Annah ZAF 0:29:09 2:39:20 1:29:25 4:43:35
4 CZESNIK, Maria POL 0:29:06 2:46:14 1:33:35 4:55:35
5 SCHINK, Lina-Kristin DEU 0:37:34 2:41:42 1:33:24 4:57:59