Abraham tops at IM Talinn
Corinne Abraham combined a 4th-best 59:03 swim, a women’s-best 4:39:57 bike split and a women’s 2nd-fastest 3:12:01 marathon to finish in 8:55:22 with an 8:46 margin of victory over Kristin Liepold of Germany and 9:04 over 3rd-place Kimberley Morrison of Great
Britain.
Abraham began the day with a 2.4 mile swim in Lake Harku which left her with a 2:49 deficit to Morrison, 2:46 to Renee Kiley of Australia and 2:14 to Ewa Komander of Poland. Seemingly out of touch was Kristin Liepold of Germany, who lagged 8:51 behind the leaders with a duathlon-style 1:05:05 time for the 2.4-mile swim. Coming out of the water 9 minutes arrears was Angela Naeth of Canada, who was racing one week after a race day bike crash that gave her bruised ribs and forced her withdrawal at Ironman Canada.
After 104 km of the bike leg, Kimberley Morrison led by 55 seconds on Abraham, 3:33 over Komander and 3:52 over Kiley. Liepold was 10:33 off the lead and Naeth fell off the splits record. After 151 km of the bike leg, Abraham overtook Morrison for the lead. Running third was Komander 3:32 arrears and Kiley was 4th, 4:52 behind the leaders, while Liepold fell a seemingly insurmountable 24 minutes off the pace.
After a 2nd-fastest 4:42:47 bike split. Morrison arrived in T2 with a 33 seconds lead on Abraham, who made up two minutes on her swim deficit with a women-pro’s best 4:39:57 bike split. Kiley arrived third, 5:37 off the leader and Komander 4th, with a 7:10 deficit.
If not for her enormous run capability, Liepold and her 25 minute deficit would not be worthy of note that she stood 25 minutes off the pace.
After 14 kilometers of the run, Abraham led Morrison by 3:36, Komander by 8:32 and Kiley by 10:15. After 23 km, Abraham increased her lead to 5:32 over Morrison, 9:10 over Komander, and 13:01 over Kiley. Starting to make up ground, Liepold was 20 minutes behind.
At 32 kilometers, Abraham had a 7:22 lead on Morrison, 9:36 on Komander, 14:15 on Kiley – and 15:08 on the flying feet of Liepold. At 38 kilometers, Abraham had an 8:39 lead on Morrison, 10:18 on Komander, and 12:16 on Liepold in 4th.
With a Kona slot awaiting the 2nd place finisher, Liepold had just 3:16 to make up on Morrison in the final 4 kilometers.
After a 2nd-best 3:12:01 marathon, Abraham finished in 8:55:22 with the first Kona slot wrapped up. The surprise of the run was Liepold, who closed with an amazing 2:53:50 run split, which brought her to the line in second place in 9:04:08. Liepold passed Morrison, who ran 3:21:34, for the final Kona slot by 15 seconds.
Komander took 4th, 11:13 behind the winner.
Ironman Talinn – Pro Women
Talinn, Estonia
August 3, 2019
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Results
Pro Women
1. Corinne Abraham (GBR) 8:55:22 S 59:03 T1 2:41 B 4:39:57 T2 1:43 R 3:12:01
2. Kristin Liepold (GER) 9:04:08 S 1:05:05 T1 2:28 B 5:00:25 T2 2:23 R 2:53:50
3. Kimberley Morrison (GBR) 9:04:23 S 56:14 T1 2:07 B 4:42:47 T2 1:44 R 3:21:34
4. Ewa Komander (POL) 9:06:35 S 56:49 T1 2:48 B 4:48:40 T2 2:28 R 3:15:51
5. Renee Kiley (AUS) 9:11:47 S 56:17 T1 2:34 B 4:47:53 T2 2:21 R 3:22:43
