Raelert and Meyers win Ironman 70.3 Austin

Caswell, Drummond, and Silvey take age group wins.

Rogerhospedales October 23, 2011

Germany’s Michael Raelert and American Jessica Meyers took wins today at Ironman 70.3 Austin.

Raelert, a two-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion (who missed out on defending his title this year due to injury), led the swim (24:06), lost the lead to Switzerland’s Ronnie Schildknecht who rode the top split of 2:05:53, but Raelert roared to the lead once again with the top run of the day (1:11:05) to take the win in 3:47:48. Schildknecht held on for second (3:49:48), and Great Britain’s Paul Amey ran 1:13:26 to claim third (3:52:36). Stephen Dyke, 49, of St. John’s, Newfoundland Stephen finished eleventh overall (4:13:59).

Meyers, a winner at Ironman 70.3 Branson on September 18, trailed out of the water in sixth position, stayed in contention during bike, and ran a second best 1:29:01 to earn her second straight win in 4:29:15. Fellow American Mandy McLane finished second in 4:34:40, and American age grouper (women 30-34) Christina Jackson raced to an impressive third place finish (4:35:03). Ottawa’s Tenille Hoogland posted the fastest swim (26:19) and bike (2:25:41), but did not finish the race.

Canadians Christopher Caswell (Men 45-49 – 4:46:10), Crystal Drummond (Women 40-44 – 5:04:20), Carolyn Silvey (Women 55-59 – 5:43:32) all won their age categories. Jacqueline Lewis (Women 45-49 – 5:10:38) took second, and Nancy Pauw (Women 50-54 – 5:54:55) finished fourth.

Men

1. Raelert, Michael 3:47:48

2. Schildknecht, Ronnie 3:49:48

3. Amey, Paul 3:52:36

4. Cigana, Massimo 3:56:26

5. Cunningham, Richie 3:56:59

6. Gomes, Pedro 4:01:53

7. Cartmell, Fraser 4:04:52

8. Ganter, Chris 4:06:30

9. Glauser, Grant 4:10:54

10. Barnett, Damon 4:12:51

11. Dyke, Stephen (CAN) 4:13:59

Women

1. Meyers, Jessica 4:29:15

2. McLane, Mandy 4:34:40

3. Jackson, Christina 4:35:03 *W30-34

4. Gregory, Caroline 4:38:28

5. Smith, Lesley 4:39:10

6. Haag, Kortney 4:40:00 *W30-34

7. Cooper-Scott, Haley 4:40:48

8. Paxton, Rachael 4:40:59

9. Peterson, Kristen 4:42:16

10. Luebke, Jennifer 4:43:40