Wurtele Wins Ironman Coeur d’Alene

Heather Wurtele successfully defended her title at Ironman Coeur d’Alene Sunday with a decisive win in 9:34:32. As the pre-race favourite, Wurtele established her lead on the bike riding 5:22, seven minutes faster than second fastest bike split posted by Jessica Smith. Americans Kelly Williamson and Smith were second in 9:50:07 and third in 9:58:42 respectively.  Williamson took the lead on the swim exiting the water 45 seconds ahead of Wurtele and Smith, but Wurtele’s race-fastest bike and run splits would secure her win. This is Wurtele’s fourth win of 2014. She won Ironman 70.3 Monterrey, Ironman 70.3 Oceanside and Ironman 70.3 Eagleman earlier this season.

On the men’s side, American Andy Potts won in 8:25:44 about three minutes ahead of the Ukraine’s Viktor Zyemtsev and four minutes ahead of third place Ben Hoffman of the US.

Canadian women cleaned up this weekend across the board, winning three of the five Ironman-branded events that took place today, including the Saskatoon 5150 (Melanie McQuaid), Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 (Angela Naeth) and Wurtele’s Ironman win.