Viktor Zyemtsev an Caitlyn Snow ran their way to their wins at IRONMAN 70.3 Florida. Less than a minute separated the top three in the men’s race, while Caitlin Snow blitzed the run for the title at IRONMAN 70.3 Florida.
Veteran gets it done on the run
Jens Allerup (DNK) swam solo for most of the swim and built up a 43-second lead on a chase pack that included Greg Bennett (AUS), Artem Parienko (RUS) and Viktor Zyemtsev (UKR).
Once on the bike, a lead pack with Allerup, Parienko and Bennett pulled away from the field, leading by over two minutes at 30 miles. Late in the ride Bennett surged and finished the bike with leads of 1:24 on Allerup and 1:59 on Parienko, while Zyemtsev over five minutes behind.
Bennett started the run strong and was putting in time on everyone except Zyemtsev, who matched the leader's pace during the early miles. Shortly after the halfway point the field started to eat into Bennett’s lead, with Zyemtsev making the biggest gains. Zyemtsev's race-best 1:13:39 run propelled the multiple IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 champion to the win by 28 seconds over Bennett, who managed to hold onto second. Rounding out the podium was Parienko, who strode across the finish line only 52 seconds after Zyemtsev.
Snow storms to another win
Laura Bennett (USA) ran into T1 with a 14 second lead on Lauren Goss (USA) and Rebeccah Wassner (USA). Cait Snow (USA), Jackie Arendt (USA) and Margie Shapiro (USA) were over a minute back, but still well positioned for the remainder of the race.
Once on the bike, Shapiro, Snow, Goss and Bennett pulled away from the field by the halfway point, with Wassner stuck in no-where-land a minute back and the rest of women over two minutes off the pace.
Coming into T2, Snow had Shapiro in her shadow, while Goss hopped off her bike a minute after the leading pair. It didn’t take long for Snow to wind up her potent run as she immediately took command of the race. The fleet footed Snow used her 1:20:27 (the fastest run on the day) to win the 2014 IRONMAN 70.3 Florida title by over six minutes on Shapiro, who finished second. Goos faded late in the run but managed hold onto the final step on the podium.
Top Pro Men
1 Viktor Zyemtsev UKR 3:54:26
2 Greg Bennett AUS 3:54:54
3 Artem Parienko RUS 3:55:18
4 Jacob Rhyner USA 3:55:37
5 Jens Toft Allerup DNK 3:56:05
Top Pro Women
1 Caitlin Snow USA 4:13:37
2 Margie Shapiro USA 4:20:13
3 Lauren Goss USA 4:21:44
4 Amber Ferreira USA 4:23:47
5 Laura Bennett USA 4:25:45