By Jay Prasuhn
March 31, 2007 -- The 2007 Ford Ironman 70.3 California took new champs with two different ways to win. While short-course speedster Andy Potts led from the gun to the tape to take a convincing win in 3:59:59, Australian Kate Major, in her adopted home of North County San Diego, went the steady-as-she-goes rout by pouring on a steady effort to overcome most of the women’s field on the bike and just a couple on the run to win in 4:26:15.
“It’s interesting—and certainly challenging—to win wire-to-wire,” Potts said. I’m really proud of this win.”
Finally, the traditional North American long-course season opener offered up an idyllic day with a brisk pre-dawn chill giving way to a warming, cloudless race morning for all athletes.
The expected first exit from the water came courtesy of American ITU star and former national team swimmer Andy Potts, who came up the boat ramp in 22:35—three minutes ahead of the main group of male chasers. Among the women, it was Linda Gallo and Leanda Cave out first in 24:09, with Becky Lavelle out 20 seconds later.
Early on, it was defending champion Luke Bell of Australia who, in his Marines-themed camo race kit, made the early bid to reel in Potts. But as the bike wore on, his usual snap was just absent—thanks largely to his recent runner-up finish to Cameron Brown at Ironman New Zealand. “They’re just not there,” said Bell midway through the bike as he shook out his quads.
Off the bike, Bell’s legs would continue to betray him as he would end up crossing 11th overall.
Ahead, while Potts rode hard, steady and solo, it was a couple of surprises—Dane Jens Koefoed and Scottsdale, Ariz., pro Lewis Elliott—who made the first surge to separate from a group, including David Thompson, Joe Gambles and Richie Cunningham, that came in together off the bike.
While Potts was unassailable with a three-minute lead that he slowly extended on the run, Koefoed and Elliott battled side-by-side throughout the run through Oceanside’s waterfront, with Koefoed getting the better of the American at the tape.
In the women’s race, early leader Becky Lavelle of Los Gatos, Calif.l looked to be stamping her authority on the race. But an illness she contracted while in Australia the last three weeks was getting the better of her, and her early three-minute lead was whittled to one minute off the bike. The flat feeling would continue on the run despite her best efforts.
Behind, it was Major and Boston’s Dede Griesbauer who powered ahead and ate up her three-minute deficit on the bike, charging through the women’s elite field to get to within a minute of Lavelle off the bike.
Once onto the run, the Aussie Major bounded steady through the half-marathon to pick up Griesbauer, then the fading Lavelle to take the win. Griesbauer captured Lavelle to take second, while Lavelle held on for third.
“I really just focused on everyone ahead of me and stayed on my pace,” Major said. “It really worked out as well as I hoped.”
Ford Ironman 70.3 Oceanside
Oceanside, Calif.
March 18, 2007,
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run
Men
1. Andy Potts (USA) 3:39:59
2. Jens Koefoed (DEN) 4:03:43
3. Lewis Elliott (USA) 4:03:53
4. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 4:04:57
5. Bert Jammaer (BEL) 4:05:13
Women
1. Kate Major (AUS) 4:26:15
2. Dede Griesbauer (USA) 4:31:46
3. Becky Lavelle (USA) 4:33:03
4. Alisha Lion (USA) 4;34:49
5. Leanda Cave (GBR) 4:37:46