Melanie McQuaid takes third at Ironman Wisconsin

She’s a three-time Xterra world champ and a two-time winner of the World Triathlon Cross Triathlon World Championship (above she’s seen on her way to the 2017 title) and, at 49, she’s still earning podium finishes at Ironman events. Earlier this year she finished fifth at Ironman Lake Placid. This weekend Melanie McQuaid took third at Ironman Wisconsin in 10:06:35, finishing behind Australia’s Chloe Lane and American Jessica Smith.

McQuaid is no stranger to great performances in Wisconsin – in 2019 she finished second at the event.

Conditions in Madison for this year’s race were tough as athletes endured cool conditions and lots of rain as they worked their way through the challenging course. It was a great day for Canadians, though, as Brent McMahon and Cody Beals took the top two spots on the men’s podium, with reigning Ultraman world champion Jordan Bryden finishing fifth.

McQuaid was just 45 seconds behind swim leader Rachel Mensch as she hit T1 in fifth place. At one point she had ridden herself into third position out on the bike course, but would eventually hit T1 in fifth place, 8:33 behind leaders Lane and Smith, who were seconds apart as they started the run.

Lane would cruise through the marathon in 3:15 to easily take the win in 9:45:21, eight minutes ahead of Smith, with McQuaid running a 3:27 marathon to finish in third, 21 minutes behind the winner.