McBride and McQuaid Take 3rd and 4th at Vineman 70.3

Meredith Kessler claimed her third title at Ironman 70.3 Vineman in Windsor California on Sunday in a time of 4:11:43. She was almost four minutes ahead of  the reigning Ironman 70.3 World Champion Melissa Hauschildt who claimed second. Canadians Rachel McBride and Melanie McQuaid were third and fourth in the stacked field. Kessler’s race best swim of 24:46 in the Russian River put her well out in front of the pack but the four top women all rode a strong 2:21 over the rolling bike course. McBride’s 1:25 run was fastest enough for her to claim third in an overall time of 4:17:23 while McQuaid  was close behind in 4:21. Sara Gross was 12th.
Women

1. Meredith Kessler (USA) 4:11:43
2. Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) 4:14:13
3. Rachel McBride (CAN) 4:17:23
4. Melanie McQuaid (CAN) 4:21:02
5. Emma-Kate Lidbury (GBR) 4:21:49

Men

1, Tim Reed (AUS) 3:47:43
2. Tim Don (GBR) 3:50:55
3. Callum Millward (NZL) 3:51:44
4. Paul Matthews (AUS) 3:53:18
5. Matt Reed (USA) 3:54:58