The Weekend Box May 4 2014
Reports from exciting races in California, Busselton and Port Mac Australia, St. Croix and much more can be found in The Weekend Box of May 4th 2014.
Jackson three-peats, Thomas four-peats at Wildflower Long Course
Despite the drought that drained almost all the water from Lake San Antonio, two remarkable winning streaks stayed alive at the 32nd Wildflower Triathlon.
Heather Jackson won her third straight Wildflower Triathlon without too much drama, but Jesse Thomas came back from a year-long hiatus from competition due to a foot bone break to earn a record-breaking four-peat at the Monterey County long course classic.
Although it was not widely known at the time, Jesse Thomas suffered a broken navicular bone in his foot while winning Wildflower last year and has since had a couple surgeries.
Despite a threadbare run fitness that included just one 8-mile effort two weeks ago, Thomas emerged from the swim in 5th, then ran down everyone but Andrew Starykowicz in the 2-mile dry river run to the first transition. Thanks to an insufficiently tightened seat post that was jolted loose in a pothole one mile from the start, super cyclist Starykowicz rode the first 40 miles with a severely lowered seat and could only build a 2:15 lead on Thomas at T2.
"It's my fault," said Starky. "I rode hard to take the lead, but I knew that wouldn't be enough." While Thomas took the lead at the usual Mile 5 on the run course (Mile 7 when combined with the swim-to-bike section) he really started to worry. "I knew it was a big ask to get my body to run 11 miles at one time," said Thomas. "I didn’t let myself get excited about the win, because I was afraid my foot would give out at any moment. I kept asking the guy leading me on the bike How much time do I have?"
In fact, it was two minutes on Callum Millward of New Zealand. Thomas finished in 4:06:13 with a combined run time of 1:28:44, his slowest marks during his four-peat. Millward finished 2:07 back in 2nd, with Matt Russell 3rd, 4:14 back of Thomas. Starykowicz held on for 4th, 1:05 back of Russell.
While Thomas is now tied with Cameron Widoff and Chris McCormack with four Wildflower wins, he is the only man to win four in a row. Widoff is next with three straight wins in 1997-98-99. McCormack has consecutive wins in 2001 and 2002.
Heather Jackson emerged from the swim 5th best in 25:51, 1:59 behind swim leader Emily Cocks, and 52 seconds behind Laurel Wassner. But thanks to the 2-mile swim-to-bike run, Jackson and fellow run star Liz Lyles tore through the field with 13:36 and 13:56 splits that erased the swim advantages of Cocks and Wassner. Jackson then took control of the race with a decisive, race-best 2:35:38 split that was roughly 5 minutes better than Lyles and Wassner. Jackson shut the door on all her chasers with a race-best 1:15:08 split for the 11.1 remaining miles which brought her to the line with a 4:34:18 time which gave her a 6:34 margin of victory over runner-up Lyles and 7:37 over Wassner, who took the final spot on the podium.
Jackson was struck by how different this year was from her come-from-behind win in 2013 over long shot Australian Kat Baker, who led Jackson by 4:20 at T2.
"Last year I was freaking out and chasing from behind on the run all day," said Jackson. "This year, I think I benefited from the 2 mile run after the swim because I came out of the swim near the front and I had the chance to get to the front quicker than usual. It was good for me because I got practice at running from the front. It's a whole different mindset."
Wildflower Long Course Triathlon
Lake San Antonio, California / May 3, 2014
1.2m swim / 2m run / 56m bike / 11.1m run
Elite men
1. Jesse Thomas (USA) 4:06:13
2. Callum Millward (NZL) 4:08:20
3. Matthew Russell (USA) 4:10:27
4. Andrew Starykowicz (USA) 4:11:32
5. Justin Daerr (USA) 4:13:32
Elite women
1. Heather Jackson (USA) 4:34:28
2. Elizabeth Lyles (USA) 4:40:52
3. Laurel Wassner (USA) 4:41:55
4. Carrie Lester (AUS) 4:47:05
5. Charisa Wernick (USA) 4:47:38
Holtham and Hauschildt take 2014 Toyota Ironman Australia
Canadian Elliot Holtham surprised the competitors and fans alike with a superb win over Aussie Paul Ambrose and neo Pro Nick Baldwin from the Seychelles.
“That was a tough day, I cracked my Garmin so had no power, no time, lost my nutrition so wasn’t in a positive place,” said Holtham. “I had the word patience written on my hand and I knew I had to bring it back. I wanted to win an Ironman that’s what we do. It’s really special and I know there’s a lot of people watching back home."
2-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion Melissa Hauschildt was a late entry into this classic long course race and had many eyes on her and she certainly did not disappoint. She paced herself well during the bike segment, stalked and eventually reeled in leader Lisa Marangon in the second half of the run and then just took it home. But she admitted that she had a tough day out there.
“I was just thinking never again, never again, just cross that finish line. It was so tough, I’ve never run that far before, four laps, after one lap I was buggered, it was really tough,” said Hauschildt.
Toyota Ironman Australia
Port Macquarie, Australia / May 4, 2014
2.4m swim / 112m bike / 26.2m run
Top men
1. Elliot Holtham (CAN) 8:35:17
2. Paul Ambrose (AUS) 8:37:47
3. Nick Baldwin (SEY) 8:41:18
4. Brian Fuller (AUS) 8:43:00 * AG
5. Denis Chevrot (FRA) 8:44:42
Top women
1. Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) 9:28:42
2. Lisa Marangon (AUS) 9:30:49
3. Melanie Burke (NZL) 9:32:52
4. Dimity-Lee Duke (AUS) 9:43:47
5. Hillary Biscay (USA) 9:55:42
Ironman 70.3 Busselton titles for Van Berkel and Bevilaqua
Tim Van Berkel led an Aussie sweep of the top 5 positions at the 2014 Ironman 70.3 Busselton, but it was a very narrow affair for the to 3 finishers. Van Berkel crossed the line as the winner in 4:43:07, but Alex Reithmeir was just 22 seconds behind him and 3rd place getter Sam Appleton another 10 seconds back. Sam Betten and Casey Munro finished out the to 5, and Kiwi Guy Crawford in 6th place was in fact the only non Aussie in the top 10.
Kate Bevilaqua had a solid day throughout and pulled away from challenger Rebecca Hoschke during the run. When it was all said and done Bevilaqua had a fine time of 4:19:06 to grab this title. Hoschke was next in 4:21:11 and Kate Peddley finished 3rd in 4:21:41.
"I was second out of the water, rode solo for most the day, until a small group of girls caught me with 15k to go on the bike and the three of us entered T2 together!," said Bevilaqua. "I threw caution to the wind and went for it at the beginning of the run, hoping my fitness would allow me to get across the finish line first. I'm over the moon to come away with the top podium position."
Ironman 70.3 Busselton
Busselton, Australia / May 3, 2014
1.2m swim / 56m bike / 13.1m run
Top men
1. Tim Van Berkel (AUS) 3:43:07
2. Alex Reithmeir (AUS) 3:43:29
3. Sam Appleton (AUS) 3:43:39
4. Sam Betten (AUS) 3:48:28
5. Casey Munro (AUS) 3:49:51
Top women
1. Kate Bevilaqua (AUS) 4:19:06
2. Rebecca Hoschke (AUS) 4:21:11
3. Kate Pedley (AUS) 4:21:41 * AG
4. Katey Gibb (AUS) 4:23:38 * AG
5. Katy Duffield (AUS) 4:24:12
O'Donnell and Radickova capture Captain Morgan Ironman 70.3 St. Croix titles
Timothy O'Donnell charged into the lead 3 miles into the run and then steadily pulled away from the competition to win the 2014 Captain Morgan Ironman 70.3 St. Croix, also known as Beauty and the Beast. Aussie Brad Kahlefeldt finished second and Swiss Pro Ruedi Wild captured the final podium spot.
"I am excited and honored to win the Captain Morgan's Ironman 70.3 St Croix Champion," Said O'Donnell to slowtwitch. "Rinny and I came here to celebrate our 5 year anniversary of meeting here in St Croix at the 70.3 in 2009. A tough course and a fantastically supported event from the local community makes this a truly special race. With my focus on the IM World Champs this year, St Croix is a great way place to test yourself in the early season. Crowie always said if you do well in St Croix you can do well in Kona, I hope that's the case for me this year!"
Radka Vocickova led the race after the bike with Leanda Cave right on her heels, but the fastest bike split belonged to Catriona Morrison who knows this classic course very well and reached T2 about a minute behind the 2 leaders. But Vodickova had the best running legs after the very hard bike course and that made the difference in the end.
"Winning in St.Croix means a lot to me, because this race is very famous with a long history and is on a must do list for all athletes! It was on my list as well," said Radickova to slowtwitch. "But now, after I have done this race, I hope to come back every year."
Captain Morgan Ironman 70.3 St.Croix
St. Croix / May 4, 2014
1.2m swim / 56m bike / 13.1m run
Top men
1. Timothy O'Donnell (USA) 4:07:00
2. Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) 4:08:29
3. Ruedi Wild (SUI) 4:10:12
4. Greg Bennett (USA) 4:10:56
5. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 4:12:20
Top women
1. Radka Vodickova (CZE) 4:30:13
2. Catriona Morrison (GBR) 4:34:40
3. Leanda Cave (GBR) 4:37:15
4. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 4:46:39
5. Laura Bennett (USA) 4:49:58
The inspiration of Jesse Thomas
It is one thing in a race when your significant other and /or friends yell for you in support, but when your baby screams for you to go harder you likely will go like a rocket has been lit up in your rear end.
That is what seemingly happened to Jesse Thomas at the Wildflower Long course race, and it clearly worked out for the young father. The picture below was tweeted by the 2014 Wildflower champion after the race.
To be updated .. So stay tuned
