Metzler Returns and Conquers St. George

Jeanni Metzler returned to St. George for the first time since her outstanding second place performances in 2021 and claimed victory at the IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championships.

Metzler wound up taking the majority of 2022 off as her mental health deteriorated under the pressure of her performances in St. George, unsure if she would return to the sport. Despite the nearly year-long break, Metzler was near the front of the race all day, then blitzed to a large lead on the first lap of the run course and held off a fast closing Skye Moench and Danielle Lewis to claim victory.

After the race, Metzler talked about her road back to the start line here in St. George. “I honestly came in with no expectations. Having been off of racing at the highest level for a year, it hurts. I had to remind myself what racing was like. To win here after being second a few times is just the cherry on top. I didn’t feel great all day. I just tried my best to stay in the moment. I was just able to feel steady all day, and I guess it was enough!”

Moench talked about how difficult the day was. “I know the course. It definitely delivered. It’s always all hard! I honestly tried to ride very controlled, not go crazy, and be patient. On the run, I just wanted to give my very best. I felt horrible the first lap! Then something just clicked and then I was able to run in that second loop, and that’s good because it wound up being very close.”

Lewis, who had found herself well down after the swim, talked about how she had to chase. “That was a hard run. I did IM Texas two weeks ago, so I was questioning my run speed. I had to approach this like a couple of 5K hill repeats; make it to the top and roll on the way down. I could let it fly and get to the finish. I feel like this is one of the highlights of my career at this point, finishing third here.” She also noted that, coming off of earning a Kona slot at Texas, that “I came into this with a big weight off my chest and I feel like it helped my performance today.”

As the Race Unfolded

The women’s race started a mere two minutes after the men. From the cannon Lauren Brandon was on the front, with Jeanni Metzler desperately trying to stay on her feet. By the first sight buoy, though, that elastic had started to stretch, and it snapped by the second sight buoy. Brandon began working her way through the back of the men’s field by the five minute mark, and hit the first turn in 10:40 and the second in 13:24.

Brandon exited the water with nearly a minute lead from her 24:44 effort. The first chaser: Hannah Sakaluk, who swam 25:34. Metzler and Gabrielle Lumkes were next, a little over 1:10 back. Meredith Kessler led the large pack of women, three minutes down. That group included pre-race favorites like Rach McBride, Jackie Hering, Skye Moench, and Lesley Smith.

Brandon continued to maintain her lead through the opening miles of the bike, as Metzler and Lumkes had passed Sakaluk and stayed 1:15 back. Moench had come to the front of the main chase group and was trying to start closing the gap. The biggest casualty of the early efforts was Danielle Lewis, who found herself over 6 minutes behind.

At the quarter bike mark, Brandon kept a steady lead. Metzler maintained the gap to Brandon at 1:15, but those efforts had seen Lumkes, riding a road bike, fall away, now riding by herself 1:41 away. Moench had broken away from the chase pack, riding a solo fourth and the fastest woman on the road, 2:31 from the front. Kessler and McBride were next, roughly together, around 3 minutes down. The largest women’s pack was led by Sakaluk and Hering, 3:45 down, but only contained six women; it seemed like attrition had set in early.

Just before halfway and it looked like Brandon was starting to pay the price for her effort from IRONMAN Texas just a few weeks ago, as Metzler took the lead for the first time, and Moench was now just 1:10 behind in a solo third place. McBride, Lumkes, and Kessler were all riding together, two minutes off the lead. Further back, Jackie Hering was sliding backwards through the field, now 10th and 3:32 behind; meanwhile, Lewis was closing the gap to the front slowly but surely.

Coming up toward Snow Canyon and Moench had clawed her way up to Brandon and Metzler. The three of them entered Snow Canyon together with a little more than a minute over McBride. Kessler continued to ride a strong race in fifth, 1:44 from the lead, joined by Anna Bergsten, Melanie McQuaid, and Lumkes.

Moench and Metzler’s work through Snow Canyon saw them drop Brandon as they headed into transition. Bergsten had closed to 2:18 from the lead, paired with McBride. Brandon and Kessler were together, about 2:40 behind. Lewis had ridden her way into 7th, 3:21 from the lead, and with arguably the strongest run in the field. McQuaid was 8th, Lumkes 9th, and Olivia Mitchell in 10th.

Metzler blasted through transition, putting on her gear as she was running, and pressed her way to a minute lead over Moench in the opening miles of the run. The big mover was Lewis, who had leapfrogged into fourth, 3:30 from the lead, but matching the pace of Metzler. Kessler was also running well, with McBride, Brandon, and McQuaid all falling further behind.

Coming back to town and Metzler continued to run extremely well. Beginning the second loop of the run and Metzler’s lead was 2:15 over Moench and 3:28 over Lewis and Bergsten. Lewis was only matching the pace of Metzler in front, but her pace was 20 seconds a mile better than that of Moench, suggesting she’d be able to close up to second by the end of the run.

With five miles left to run, and Metzler was comfortably ahead of Moench with a 2:35 gap. Lewis had broken away from Bergsten, but was still 1:05 back of Moench and running out of road. Kessler still sat fifth, not threatening the four in front, but holding off McBride by 30 seconds. Mitchell, Hering, Brandon, and Lumkes were the final runners within 10 minutes of the lead.

Despite slowing some in the final miles, Metzler earned victory in her return to St. George, taking the win in 4:16:42. Moench held off Lewis for second, with all three within 1:41 of one another at the end.

Women’s Top 10

1. Jeanni Metzler 4:16:42
2. Skye Moench 4:17:42
3. Danielle Lewis 4:18:24
4. Anna Bergsten 4:21:48
5. Jackie Hering 4:23:35
6. Rach McBride 4:23:49
7. Olivia Mitchell 4:23:52
8. Meredith Kessler 4:24:10
9. Rebecca Anderbury 4:26:37
10. Gabrielle Lumkes 4:27:44

Photo Credit: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images for IRONMAN