It was another weekend and another win for Lionel Sanders, while Melissa Hauschildt cruised away from the field on the run for her victory.
Sanders blitzes the field with his run, again
Tim O’Donnell (USA) was first out of Lake Michigan and hit North Beach with his 24:14 swim time. A group of six, pursued the leader up the sandy beach just seconds back that included Marti Van Barneveld (NZL), Fabio Carvalho (BRA) Kevin Collington (USA), Daniel Fontana (ITA), Andrew Starykowicz (USA) and three-time ITU world champion, Peter Robinson (AUS).
Once the rubber met the pavement, Starykowicz flew to the front and buried the completion behind him with each passing mile. Powering his way throughout the 56 miles of cycling in Racine County roads, Starykowicz would eventually carry a eight minute lead of just over a chase pack of eight as he dismounted his bike that now included last weekend’s winner at the afresh IRONMAN 70.3 Muncie, Lionel Sanders (CAN), O’Donnell, Carvalho, Fontana, Van Barneveld, Raul Tjada (GMT), Robertson and Collington.
With Starykowicz well over a mile up the road in the 13.1 mile run, the chase pack appeared doomed to scrap it out for second before they even had an opportunity to start their run. Someone must have neglected to send that memo to Sanders, as he proceeded to chewed all but three and half minutes of the Starykowicz advantage as race reached the halfway point of the run. With Sanders laying down 5:15 miles or better for the entire run, he would eventually pass Starykowicz for the lead in the final mile to capture his second IRONMAN 70.3 win in eight days in an elapsed time of 3:45:55. Following the winner 42 seconds later was Starykowicz’s who recorded a 3:46:37, with Robertson rounding out the podium with a 3:51:41 clocking.
Hauschildt just too strong on the bike and run
Helle Frederiksen (DNK) stroked out 25:32 swim, leaving Malaika Home (USA) 1:16 behind, and Valentina Carvallo (CHL), Christine Hammond (USA) and IRONMAN 70.3 world champion Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) all looking at a two and half minute deficit to overcome.
The remainder of the day would belong to Hauschildt, as she had the race best bike ride in the women’s race that watched her dismount he bike just seconds prior to Frederiksen. Lauren Barnett (USA) would be next into T2 then Laura Siddall (GBR), 4:39 and 5:20 of Hauschildt’s pace.
Now in her element on the run, Hauschildt immediately started pulling away from the field. Her 4:11:51 finishing time netted Hauschildt a winning margins of 4:32 over Frederiksen (4:16:22) and 7:43 on Barnett (4:19:34).
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Lionel Sanders CAN 3:45:55
2 Andrew Starykowicz USA 3:46:37
3 Peter Robertson AUS 3:51:41
4 Kevin Collington USA 3:52:01
5 Daniel Fontana ITA 3:53:16
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Melissa Hauschildt AUS 4:11:51
2 Helle Frederiksen DNK 4:16:22
3 Lauren Barnett USA 4:19:34
4 Laura Siddall GBR 4:23:49
5 Christine Hammond USA 4:27:31