Jan Fredeno and Heather Jackson used blistering run splits to capture the prestigious Accenture IRONMAN
Frodeno goes two for two Five-time Accenture IRONMAN 70.3 California champion Andy Potts (USA) led the men’s field out of the water with his 22:44 swim time. Last year’s winner in Oceanside, Jan Frodeno (DEU), was within seconds of the leader, while the rest of the contenders were looking at one to two and half minute deficits as they ran into transition.
Once on the bike, Maik Twelsiek (DEU), Ronnie Schildknecht (CHE), Brent McMahon (CAN), Jesse Thomas (USA) and Lionel Sanders (CAN) joined Potts and Frodeno at the front of the race. After the lead was exchanged a number times in the closing half of the bike, it was Sanders who dismounted his bike first, towing in Twelsiek, Frodeno, McMahon, Potts and Thomas within 16 seconds.
The race was tight early on the run as Sanders and Frodeno ran shoulder to shoulder, with McMahon, Potts and Thomas 13 to 20 seconds off the pace. Frodeno edged away from Sanders after three miles and held a tentative 36-second lead at the six mile marker, while McMahon, Potts and Thomas slipped to over two minutes back, appearing to be out of contention for the win. It was no contest in the second half of the run as Sanders could only watch Frodeno pull away, while Potts mounted a hard push from behind in third. On the strength of the race-best run of 1:10:48, Frodeno captured the 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 California title in 3:47:08. Potts' hard work on the run was rewarded with a second-place finish (3:48:43), while Sanders (3:49:19) hung on to grab the final podium spot.
Jackson grabs her second win in Oceanside
Holly Lawrence (GBR) and Alicia Kaye (USA) were seconds behind swim leader Jen Spieldenner (USA) coming out of the water. Race favorites Magali Tisseyre (CAN), Heather Wurtele (CAN) and Michelle Vesterby (DNK) were over a minute down, while Heather Jackson (USA), Rachel McBride (CAN) and Angela Naeth (CAN) found themselves over two minutes off the pace.
Lawrence put her head down on the bike and powered away from the women’s field. Naeth and Jackson rode in second and third as Wurtele forged her way into fourth and that trio worked hard to limit Lawrence’s advantage. Their efforts were fruitless as Lawrence led by over three minutes at the completion of the 56-mile bike.
On the run, Lawrence’s lead held steady in the opening miles, but by three miles it was evident that she was fading fast. With seven miles left in the run Jackson and Wurtele reduced Lawrence’s lead to 50 and 90 seconds respectfully. Both stormed past the leader over the second half of the run, with Jackson maintaining a minute lead on Wurtele as Lawrence slipped to third. Jackson's gutsy run garnered the American her second IRONMAN 70.3 California tile with a winning time of 4:14:47. Wurtele was next across the line in 4:16:07, while Lawrence rounded out the podium with her 4:16:59 finish time.
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Frodeno, Jan DEU 0:22:48 2:09:10 1:10:48 3:47:08
2 Potts, Andy USA 0:22:44 2:09:20 1:12:25 3:48:43
3 Sanders, Lionel CAN 0:26:59 2:04:46 1:13:12 3:49:19
4 McMahon, Brent CAN 0:23:18 2:08:47 1:14:51 3:51:07
5 Thomas, Jesse USA 0:26:04 2:06:06 1:16:19 3:52:52
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Jackson, Heather USA 0:27:07 2:20:51 1:22:22 4:14:47
2 Wurtele, Heather CAN 0:26:40 2:21:14 1:23:12 4:16:07
3 Lawrence, Holly GBR 0:24:52 2:19:58 1:27:30 4:16:59
4 Kaye, Alicia USA 0:24:54 2:24:28 1:25:14 4:20:01
5 Naeth, Angela CAN 0:27:11 2:20:41 1:23:24 4:21:33