Results from Ironman 70.3 Syracuse

Belgium’s Bart Aernouts and Australia’s Nikki Butterfield took wins at Ironman 70.3 Syracuse today.

After surrendering over 3 minutes to the major players of the race after the swim (27:10), Aernouts cranked it up during the bike (2:13:54 – top split) to move into fourth, then ran a race best 1:13:18 half marathon to take the win in 3:57:30. Great Britain’s Paul Ambrose led the race after the bike but had to settle for second (4:02:12), and Australia’s Josh Rix moved up a few spots during the run to get third (4:03:40).

Butterfield exited the water eighth but moved into the race lead with a race best 2:22:38 ride, and got further away with a 1:24:16 top women’s run. Her 4:18:57 finish time put her ahead of Switzerland’s Caroline Steffen (4:21:54), and New Zealand’s Samantha Warriner (4:33:31).

The following Canadians won their respective age group categories:

Burrows, Jim  50/M50-54  31:53, 2:34:21, 1:37:52 – 4:49:18

Gallant, Sharon  35/F35-39  37:47, 2:50:00, 1:37:41 – 5:09:55

Plant, Kris  46/F45-49  37:05, 2:55:15, 1:47:35 – 5:27:43

Elkie, Anne  51/F50-54  31:35, 3:16:52, 1:56:38 – 5:52:10

Burke, Viola  59/F55-59  43:25, 3:04:59, 2:15:41 – 6:11:16

Top 5

Men

1. Aernouts, Bart  3:57:30

2. Ambrose, Paul  4:02:12

3. Rix, Josh  4:03:40

4. Hackett, Stephen  4:04:32

5. Allen, Richard  4:05:13

14. Harju, Dave (CAN)  4:27:56

Women

1. Butterfield, Nikki  4:18:57

2. Steffen, Caroline  4:21:54

3. Warriner, Samantha  4:33:31

4. Challis, Rachel  4:39:04

5. Sax, Janine  4:40:07

12. Danais, Marie (CAN)  4:58:57