Gambles, Norden win Syracuse
Joe Gambles of Australia and Olympic silver medalist Lisa Norden of Sweden dominated the men’s and women’s fields at Ironman 70.3 Syracuse.
Gambles, who led an Australian sweep of the men’s podium, combined a 3rd-best 26:28 swim, race-fastest 2:11:38 bike split and race-best 1:21:45 run to finish in 4:02:58 with a 6:30 margin of victory over Sam Douglas and 13:50 over 3rd-place John Polson.
Gambles’ successful defense of his 2012 Syracuse 70.3 title comes right after his triumph at the 2013 Rev3 Half at Quassy.
In a finish that was the complete opposite of her dramatic, eyelash-close Olympic duel with Nicola Spirig, Lisa Norden led wire-to-wire, topping women’s runner-up Heather Leiggi by 22:49 and finishing 7th overall including the men. Molly Roohi took 3rd, 15 seconds back of Leiggi.
Norden’s 26:52 swim was just 10 seconds better than Dede Griesbauer, but her 2:23:52 bike split was a rout, 11:55 better than the next best, Danielle Ohlson’s 2:35:47. Norden’s cruising home 1:30:46 run was 1:22 better than Molly Roohi’s 1:32:08.
The win was Norden’s second dominant half Ironman distance win this year, coming after a 6-minute margin of victory over Eimear Mullan at the Challenge Fuerteventura Half in April.
Ironman 70.3 Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
June 23, 2013
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.
Men
1. Joe Gambles (AUS) 4:02:58
2. Sam Douglas (AUS) 4:09:28
3. John Polson (AUS) 4:16:48
4. Christopher Thomas (USA) *M40-44
5. Mike Hermanson (USA) 4:23:25
6. Mike Caiazzo (USA) 4:24:07
7. Doug McLean (USA) 4:25:22
8. Greg Close (USA) 4:26:42
9. Jack Smith (USA) 4:27:12
10. Tim Snow (USA) 4:27:27
Women
1. Lisa Norden (SWE) 4:24:37
2. Heather Leiggi (USA) 4:47:26
3. Molly Roohi (USA) 4:47:41
4. Jennie Hansen (USA) 4:47:47
5. Darbi Roberts (USA) * F25-29
6. Dede Griesbauer (USA) 4:52:05
7. Danielle Ohlson (USA) 4:55:12
8. Amanda Kourtz (USA) 4:57:27
9. Suzanne Serpico (USA) 4:58:44
10. Kristin White (USA) 5:01:09 * F40-44
