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Bozzone, Zeiger Cruise to Titles at Clearwater 70.3 World Championship
By Betsy Delcour
11/8/2008 |
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2008 Clearwater 70.3 Winning Times Even Faster Than Last Year
Athletes in Clearwater were greeted with cool temperatures, clear skies, flat water and hardly any wind - all the ingredients necessary for some super fast times. This year's race saw the pro men starting their race first, followed by pro women 2 minutes later; age groupers started another 8 minutes back with 50% more wave starts than last year, all in an effort to combat drafting that's plagued this race since its inception.
In the men's race, defending champion Andy Potts predictably led the way out of the water, setting a course record pace of 21:50. Early in the bike, Potts maintained his lead, followed by Paul Matthews at +:50 and Joe Gambles at +1:00. Last year's runner up, Oscar Galindez, worked his way up to the chase group on the bike by mile 15 after exiting the water in 24th place. At mile 25, there was a new men's leader, Andrew Starykowicz; however he, Galindez and Gambles would trade the lead several times. By mile 40, Reinaldo Colucci and Terenzo Bozzone - both just 23 years old - were also in the mix, battling out the top position coming into T2.
First out of T2 was Bozzone (racing with a broken hand, to boot), ahead of Potts and Gambles. Bozzone just continued to pull further away from the group with each mile. However, another competitor who had until now been off the radar coming into T2 in 15th place, Andreas Raelert, started picking off the competition ahead of him. Although Bozzone had created a comfortable cushion of over a minute for himself over the rest of the field, Raelert quickly burned through it, making his way to 2nd place by the 9th mile. Whether Bozzone picked up the pace or Raelert ran out of real estate, Bozzone was able to cruise to his first 70.3 World Champion title here today in his time of 3:40:10 (2 minutes faster than last year's winning time); Raelert finished a mere 32 second back in 3:40:42, running a blistering 1:10:53 half marathon to Bozzone's 1:12:57. Finishing in third was Richie Cunningham, who ran his way from 9th off the bike, in a time of 3:41:47.
The ladies' race was dominated by a smaller group of women from start to finish. Leading the way out of the water was Becky Lavelle at 23:03, setting a course record. She was followed by Joanna Zeiger and 2008 XTERRA World Champion Julie Dibens. Early on the bike, Dibens took the lead, but Zeiger and Lavelle were both close behind. By mile 25 Mary Beth Ellis was also in the mix; together these four women put time on the rest of the women's field and would trade the lead back and forth several times. Last year's champion, Mirinda Carfrae, remained over 6 minutes back throughout much of the bike.
All four women entered T2 close together, with Dibens making her way to the run course first. However, early in the run Zeiger took the lead and by mile 3 had opened up a 30 second gap on her competitors. And she would just continue to pull further away from the women for the rest of the race. Joanna crossed the line 1st, setting a stunning new world record time of 4:02:48. Finishing a minute and a half back was Ellis at 4:04:07, and Lavelle rounded out third in 4:07:32.
2008 Foster Grant Ironman 70.3 World Championship
Clearwater, FL
November 8, 2008
Professional Men's Results
1. TERENZO BOZZONE 3:40:10
2. ANDREAS RAELERT 3:40:42
3. RICHIE CUNNINGHAM 3:41:47
4. OSCAR GALINDEZ 3:42:28
5. REINALDO COLUCCI 3:43:22
6. ANDY POTTS 3:44:30
7. LUKE MCKENZIE 3:45:11
8. BRENT MCMAHON 3:45:43
9. JOE GAMBLES 3:46:23
10. FRASER CARTMELL 3:46:34
Professional Women's Results
1. JOANNA ZEIGER 4:02:49
2. MARY BETH ELLIS 4:04:07
3. BECKY LAVELLE 4:07:32
4. JULIE DIBENS 4:09:10
5. NINA KRAFT 4:15:32
6. ERIKA CSOMOR 4:16:00
7. CATRIONA MORRISON 4:16:28
8. ANGELA NAETH 4:16:50
9. LEANDA CAVE 4:18:50
10. AMANDA STEVENS 4:20:28
Photos courtesy of Robert Murphy, www.bluecreekphotography.com |
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