23-year-old Kiwi and 38-year-old American set new world records in Clearwater
By Holly Bennett
On a day with perfect swim conditions, almost zero wind, an anticipated high of 80 degrees and an incredibly stacked professional field, the Foster Grant Ironman 70.3 World Championship was sure to be a hammer-fest of driven, focused competition and record-setting performances.
The Men’s RaceAndy Potts was correct at the pre-race press conference on Friday when he remarked that his Kona race hadn’t taken anything out of his swim. In fact, he led the pro men’s field in Clearwater this morning with a course-record-breaking 21:44. But he had to settle for that singular victory today, as the fatigue of the full Ironman held his legs back from a peak performance on the bike and run. After leading the bike through mile 20, he was caught by a group including Andrew Starykowicz, Oscar Galindez, David Thompson, Joe Gambles and Reinaldo Colucci, and would eventually finish in sixth place.
While Starykowicz and Galindez took turns in the leader’s spotlight, it was Joe Gambles who broke ahead at the right moment to claim the Timex Bike Prime at mile 34. Add to this group Luke McKenzie, Fraser Cartmell, David Thompson and Terenzo Bozzone and you have the top ten men who continued to leap-frog for first place throughout the remainder of the bike.
While many from this group could be podium contenders, it was Kiwi Terenzo Bozzone who ran first out of T2 and all the way to the World Champion title. Despite a still-healing broken wrist that kept him out of the Hawaii race, Bozzone’s 2:01:28 bike split positioned him perfectly with the lead group and paved the way for a blistering run. Bozzone immediately began to open a gap on the rest of the men, and by the time he headed onto the second run lap he was 1:20 ahead of his closest rivals.
The men’s race quickly sorted itself out into a hard-charging chase pack of Reinaldo Colucci, Richie Cunningham and Oscar Galindez, followed by Potts in fifth. However, running up steadily from behind was swift-moving Andreas Raelert of Germany, picking up close to 20 seconds per mile for an eventual second place finish. Australia’s Luke McKenzie turned in an impressive performance for seventh, followed by Canadian Brent McMahon and fellow Aussie Joe Gambles. Fraser Cartmell of Great Britain rounded out the men’s final top ten.
After crossing the line in a record-setting 3:40:10, an exuberant, emotional and almost disbelieving Bozzone was greeted by his girlfriend and parents, who chose the right day to watch their loved one race. When asked about the challenge of competing with a broken wrist, Bozzone said, “I put myself in the best position, I did everything I could, but on the bike I kind of overdid it. But I got a bit of a lead going out onto the run, and I was stoked about that. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe I held them off. I’m so happy I could do this. Everyone has given me so much support over the years, and my family helps me so much, having them here means everything. I’m just happy I could put on a show for everyone, hopefully I made it an enjoyable day for them. Well, everyone except for my competitors!”
As for 2007 champion Andy Potts, he’s learned a lesson about racing again so close to Kona. “I’m certainly not ashamed,” said Potts, “And I gave it a great effort, but I just didn’t have the legs. All I wanted to do on the run was stop, but as soon as you stop once, it opens the floodgates. I know why Craig didn’t come, I know why nobody comes after racing Kona. But I’m a little bit thick-headed, I needed to experience it firsthand.”
The Women’s RaceNot surprisingly, Becky Lavelle led the swim, setting a new Clearwater best of 23:03. Immediately following Lavelle out of the water was Colorado’s Joanna Zeiger, chased closely by two-time XTERRA World Champion Julie Dibens. Once onto the bike, Dibens rode into an early lead and these three, joined shortly by American Mary Beth Ellis, controlled the women’s race through to the finish. While Dibens claimed the Timex Bike Prime, she lacked her other-worldly cycling speed of 2007 and was unable to put more than a handful of seconds between herself and the other women.
By the time the fantastic four – Dibens, Lavelle, Zeiger and Ellis – simultaneously reached T2 and began the run, they had more than a nine-minute gap on the fifth place woman. No longer content with the cozy group dynamics, Zeiger quickly stepped up the pace and pulled away from her gal pals. Within the first lap she led by a minute, followed by Ellis and then Dibens and Lavelle, each less than 30 seconds apart. These gaps soon doubled, and though Zeiger at one point seemed to slow down slightly, she quickly regained her focus and hammered out an eventual world record time of 4:02:49. Ellis followed soon after, and Lavelle managed to pass Dibens for third, securing an all-American women’s podium.
Following the win, Zeiger was elated and proud that her efforts had paid off. “My training has gone really well,” said the former Olympian, “So I knew I had the ability to have a strong day. But then again its triathlon and anything can happen; any number of things can go wrong. But I was able to come into this injury free and with a really solid training block. I’m just so excited. I had a lot of confidence in my legs going into the run and was ready to put the hammer down. My plan was to take it out really hard on the run, then relax into it a bit and then bring it home hard, and it worked.”
Runner-up and relative newcomer Mary Beth Ellis seemed a bit shy of the commotion at the finish line. “This is only my second 70.3 ever. I started racing triathlon in June 2006, so it’s only been two and a half years,” said Ellis. When asked if she was at all intimidated by the caliber of athletes she kept company with for much of the race, she sounded as experienced as the wisest pros, however. “I just tried to focus on my own rhythm, my own zone and pace and stay relaxed. After all, you can only run your own race.”
Defending women’s champion Mirinda Carfrae was noticeably absent from the women’s leader board. Rinny, describing the disappointment of her eventual twelfth place finish, said her body felt useless. “It wasn’t my day. I wanted to stop, but the pain of not finishing is way worse than the pain of being useless. Its good to get your ass kicked every now and then, but I just wish it wasn’t today.”
One thing’s for sure – Carfrae and Potts’ shared sentiments about slugging it out to the finish speak volumes for what champions are made of.
2008 Foster Grant Ironman 70.3 World Championship
Clearwater, FL
November 8, 2008
Professional Men's Results
1. TERENZO BOZZONE 3:40:10
2. ANDREAS RAELERT 3:40:42
3. RICHIE CUNNINGHAM 3:41:47
4. OSCAR GALINDEZ 3:42:28
5. REINALDO COLUCCI 3:43:22
6. ANDY POTTS 3:44:30
7. LUKE MCKENZIE 3:45:11
8. BRENT MCMAHON 3:45:43
9. JOE GAMBLES 3:46:23
10. FRASER CARTMELL 3:46:34
Professional Women's Results
1. JOANNA ZEIGER 4:02:49
2. MARY BETH ELLIS 4:04:07
3. BECKY LAVELLE 4:07:32
4. JULIE DIBENS 4:09:10
5. NINA KRAFT 4:15:32
6. ERIKA CSOMOR 4:16:00
7. CATRIONA MORRISON 4:16:28
8. ANGELA NAETH 4:16:50
9. LEANDA CAVE 4:18:50
10. AMANDA STEVENS 4:20:28