Naeth sets the course record at Ironman 70.3 St. Croix

Prince George’s Angela Naeth and American Andy Potts won the Ironman 70.3 St. Croix titles this morning.

Naeth, exited the water in fourth (29:47) behind Germany’s Nina Kraft (27:05), then dominated the bike ride with the top split of 2:29:38 – despite riding with a flat tire for 6 miles. Naeth left T2 with a 1:58 lead over American Mary Beth Ellis and built on that lead with the top half marathon of 1:18:47 to take her second Ironman 70.3 title of the year in a course record 4:28:12. Ellis stayed in second place (4:33:34), and Victoria’s Sara Gross ran 1:22:39 to move up third (4:46:43). Canadians Jenny Fletcher (4:59:40) and Marie Danais (5:01:50) finished seventh and ninth respectively.

Pro Women
1. Angela NAETH CAN 4:28:12
2. Mary Beth ELLIS USA 4:33:34
3. Sara GROSS CAN 4:46:43
4. Nina KRAFT GER 4:47:44
5. Tamara KOZULINA UKR 4:47:51
6. Kim LOEFFLER USA 4:49:24
7. Jenny FLETCHER CAN 4:59:40
8. Stephanie JONES USA 5:01:01
9. Marie DANAIS CAN 5:01:50
10. Karen SMYERS USA 5:08:07

In the men’s race, Potts led the swim (24:29), but to no one’s surprise, fellow American Lance Armstrong rode his way into the lead with the top split of 2:22:39. Armstrong entered T2 with a 2:11 lead but that would not be enough. Potts reclaimed the lead with the second best run of 1:12:50 and brought home the win in 4:03:31. France’s Stephane Poulat also overtook Armstrong to claim second (4:05:25), and Armstrong finished with a 1:18:38 run for third (4:07:08). Vancouver’s Eliot Holtham rounded out the top ten (4:24:59).

Pro Men
1. Andy POTTS USA 4:03:31
2. Stephane POULAT FRA 4:05:25
3. Lance ARMSTRONG USA 4:07:08
4. Alessandro DEGASPERI ITA 4:08:53
5. Terenzo BOZZONE NZL 4:10:04
6. Oscar GALINDEZ ARG 4:12:31
7. Maxim KRIAT UKR 4:15:41
8. Frederik VAN LIERDE BEL 4:16:41
9. Andres CASTILLO COL 4:16:48
10. Eliot HOLTHAM CAN 4:24:59

Canadian Age Group Winners

WALKER, RANDAL M50-54 4:56:14

GRONDIN, LUC M55-59 5:07:49

KELLY, COLM M65-69 6:06:09