McQuaid and Killam top all-Canadian Ironman VR21 pro challenge
The all-Canadian VR21 race featured a 500 m swim, 40 km bike and 3 km run
Triathlon Magazine Canada columnist Mel McQuaid won today’s all-Canadian Ironman virtual reality pro race, beating Jen Annett, Heather Low and Robyn Hardage in the 500 m swim, 40 km bike and 3 km run event. Yesterday Nathan Killam topped the men’s race, finishing ahead of Jeff Symonds, first-year pro Francis Martin and Stephen Kilshaw.
Related: Meet the Canadian who finished third at Ironman VR1
This weekend’s racing saw athletes complete their 500 m swim at “swim locations in their home communities,” then do the 40 km ride on part of the Ironman Canada course in Penticton using the Rouvy platform, then finishing off with a 3 km run.
Martin led the swim portion of the men’s race, but it was Killam’s strong bike and run legs that netted him the men’s title.
| SWIM TIME | BIKE TIME | RUN TIME | OVERALL TIME | ||
| 1. Nathan Killam | CAN | 00:07:08 | 00:53:03 | 00:08:56 | 1:09:07 |
| 2. Jeff Symonds | CAN | 00:07:02 | 00:54:11 | 00:09:43 | 1:10:56 |
| 3. Francis Martin | CAN | 00:06:49 | 00:56:15 | 00:10:09 | 1:13:13 |
| 4. Stephen Kilshaw | CAN | 00:07:21 | 00:58:19 | 00:09:23 | 1:15:03 |
McQuaid posted the fastest splits in all three disciplines to win the women’s event.
| SWIM TIME | BIKE TIME | RUN TIME | OVERALL TIME | ||
| 1. Mel McQuaid | CAN | 00:06:59 | 00:58:03 | 00:10:39 | 1:15:41 |
| 2. Jen Annett | CAN | 00:08:33 | 00:58:15 | 00:12:26 | 1:19:14 |
| 3. Heather Low | CAN | 00:07:14 | 01:03:57 | 00:10:55 | 1:22:06 |
| 4. Robyn Hardage | CAN | 00:07:24 | 01:03:17 | 00:11:30 | 1:22:11 |