Cunningham, Riveros take Pucon
Australian Richie Cunningham and Chilean Barbara Riveros won the 2015 edition of Ironman 70.3 Pucon Sunday.
Men
At the end of the bike leg, 2014 Ironman 70.3 Pucon runner-up Felipe Barraza of Chile and Luke McKenzie of Australia arrived virtually tied and began the run together with an approximate minute lead on Ironman 70.3 star Richie Cunningham. In the opening part of the 13.1-mile run leg, Cunningham passed McKenzie for second and trailed Barraza by 40 seconds at the halfway mark. Cunningham continued his charge and made a definitive pass on Barraza on his way to the win in a time of 3:59:33 and Barazza took 2nd, 1:20 back of the winner. Near the end, Mario de Elias of Argentina passed McKenzie for 3rd, 3:34 back of Barraza. Out of gas, McKenzie settled for 4th.
Women
Much like the dynamic of the men’s race, Chileans Barbara Riveros and former Pucon 70.3 winner Valentina Carvallo surged ahead on the challenging, hilly bike course and arrived in T2 together with a 2 minute lead on Heather Jackson. Riveros sped away from Carvallo on the run and finished first in a time of 4:30:12, 1:33 ahead of Carvallo. Heather Jackson of the U.S. a three-time Wildflower winner, took 3rd, 2:26 behind Carvallo.
Herbalife Ironman 70.3 Pucon
Pucon, Chile
January 11, 2015
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.
Results
Men
1. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 3:59:33
2. Felipe Barraza (CHL) 4:00:53
3. Mario de Elias (ARG) 4:04:27
4. Luke McKenzie (AUS)
Women
1. Barbara Riveros (CHL) 4:30:12
2. Valentina Carvallo (CHL) 4:31:45
3. Heather Jackson (USA) 4:34:11
