Potts and Van Vlerken win Ironman Cozumel

Yvonne Van Vlerken successfully defended her title today at Ironman Cozumel. The USA’s Tyler Stewart biked 4:47:24 to grab the lead, but Van Vlerken used the top women’s marathon split of 3:13:39 to reel her in for the win in 9:07:08 – Van Vlerken swam 56:59, and biked 4:51:56. Stewart had to settle for second (9:23:28), and Amanda Stevens finished third (9:26:35). Toronto’s Fiona Whitby placed 6th among pro women (10:05:05), and Brooke Brown was the ninth woman across the line (10:08:21).

Meanwhile, American Andy Potts had a record-breaking day. Potts exited the water first in 45:17, lost the lead to Oscar Galindez (ARG), Eduardo Sturla (ARG), Michael Lovato (USA), and Balazs Csoke (HUN) with a 4:34:46 bike, but ran the top marathon of 2:52:19 for the win and the new course record of 8:16:14. Lovato was second (8:22:01), and Sturla was third (8:24:31). Defending champion Rutger Beke (BEL) finished 10th (8:46:12).

Canadians finishing in the top three of their age category:

Pierre-Yves Gigou 1st Men 18-24 (9:40:59)

Brooke Brown 2nd Women 30-34 (10:08:21)

Thomas Hall 1st Men 55-59 (10:56:04)

Ann Barnes 2nd Women 50-54 (11:01:13)

Genevieve Jacques 3rd Women 25-29 (11:27:19)

Becky Olacke 2nd Women 18-24 (12:02:01)

Jocelyn Reekie-Cecelia 2nd Women 55-59 (13:41:30)

Eva Alexy 3rd Women 55-59 (13:43:31)

Top 10 Men

1 POTTS, ANDY 8:15:57
2 LOVATO, MICHAEL 8:22:01
3 STURLA, EDUARDO 8:24:31
4 ZEEBROEK, AXEL 8:28:52

5 DELSAUT, TREVOR 8:32:24 *M25-29
6 YASTREBOV, ANDRIY 8:32:46

7 GONZALEZ, STEVE 8:34:00
8 EVOE, PATRICK 8:35:27
9 VABROUSEK, PETR 8:39:52
10 MAJOR, JOZSEF 8:42:25
12 BEKE, RUTGER 8:46:12

Top 10 Women

1 VLERKEN VAN, YVONNE 9:07:08
2 STEWART, TYLER 9:23:28
3 STEVENS, AMANDA 9:26:35
4 GOOS, SOFIE 9:45:01
5 WOYSCH, NICOLE 9:49:44

6 SCHWABENBAUER, KIMBERLY 10:03:59 *W30-34
7 WHITBY, FIONA (CAN) 10:05:05
8 WERNICK, CHARISA 10:07:30

9 BROWN, BROOKE (CAN) 10:08:21 *W30-34

10 OMAR SOLEDAD, MARIA 10:08:50