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Retribution for Macel at Lake Placid

After a DNF in 2007, Toronto’s Tereza Macel was on a mission this year in Lake Placid

After a DNF in 2007, Toronto’s Tereza Macel was on a clear mission at this year’s Ford Ironman Lake Placid. Macel, representing the Czech Republic, was the first athlete out of the water. She followed that with an impressive 5:13 bike (first among the pro women), and cruised to victory with a 3:20 marathon. Her 9:29:36 win was the second in her career (Ironman Korea 2006 – a race with a cancelled swim). American Caitlin Snow ran an a course record 2:57 marathon to snatch second place (9:41:21) from Canada’s Samantha McGlone (9:44:24), racing in her first Ironman since recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. Five more Canadian women cracked the top ten. Paolina Allan finished fifth (10:05:59), Tara Norton was seventh (10:13:26), Leslie Sanderson, a 40 to 44 age grouper, was eighth (10:14:22), Marie Danais was ninth (10:15:30) and 25-29 age grouper Shannon Desrosiers was tenth (10:31:14).

“The last few kilometers the spectators were spectacular. There was so much energy and cheering, it was amazing,” said Macel. “It caught me off guard when, as I passed one of the runners, he said congratulations. It was too good and too early to believe it, so I didn’t. Not until I rounded the bend on the speed skating oval where the finish line is and finally saw the finish line.”

Germany’s Maik Twelsiek won the men’s race thanks to a race-best 4:37 bike performance (16 minutes better than the next best bike ride). His 3:02 marathon easily solidified that lead and his control of the race (8:36:37). Fellow German Christian Brader was second (8:56:35) and Australia’s Jason Shortis was third (8:58:09). Quebec’s Pierre Heynemand was the top Canadian male in 14th place (9:36:06).