Lionel Sanders played to his strengths on the bike and run while Helle Frederiksen knocked off another dominating performance as the pair claimed the wins at the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN 70.3 Texas.
Sanders too hot to handle in Texas
Andy Potts (USA) proved his dominance once again in the water by exiting the Offats Bayou with the lead after recording a 24:00 swim. David Giardini (ITA) was nipping at Potts heels just one second later while Balazs Csoke (HUN), Barrett Brandon (USA) and Eric Limkemann (USA) were next to hit the beach less than 10 seconds off the pace.
Giardini raced off the front of the race for 56 miles on the strength of the fastest bike split (1:59:14) on the day. The Italian carried in what appeared to be an insurmountable lead of well over seven minutes on Greg Bennett (AUS), Lionel Sanders (CAN), Cody Beals (CAN) and Andy Potts (USA) as the men’s race completed the bike leg of the race.
Once on the run, Sanders and Potts led the pursuit of Giardini in earnest and immediately started clawing back time on the leader. Giardini paid for his torrid pace on the bike when he surrendered the lead to Sanders then Potts between eight and nine miles. Perhaps Potts had some residual effects of his IRONMAN 70.3 New Orleans win last weekend, as he could only watch Sanders pull away from him in the closing miles of the run. Sanders went on to claim the IRONMAN 70.3 Texas title in a finishing time of 3:45:39. Potts was next over the finish line, 1:44 later while Beals continues his string of solid performances at the half distance to claim the final podium placing.
Frederiksen wins again
Former three-time Big 12 swimming champion, Lauren Brandon emerged from the water with leads of 42 and 45 seconds on Helle Frederiksen (DNK) and Brianna Baird (USA) while the remainder of the field was looking a deficits of over two minutes.
Throughout the bike Frederiksen and Brandon used each other to distance themselves from the field. Frederiksen managed to come into transition with a 37 second lead on Brandon and minute on Emma-Kate Lidbury (GBR). Angela Naeth (CAN) was fourth off the bike and was looking at 3:45 to overcome on the run while remainder of the field was over five minutes off the pace.
Once on the run Frederiksen started to distance the field with each passing mile leaving the true fight for second and third. Lidbury forced her way into second while Brandon slipped off the pace early. Naeth started gaining and eventually overtook Lidbury at eight miles but continued to lose time to the fleet footed Frederiksen up front. In the closing miles, and in full command of the race, Frederiksen appeared to put her run into cruise control and soldiered her way to a comfortable winning margin of 5:58 over Naeth and 10:06 on Lidbury who hung on to claim the finial podium placing.
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Sanders, Lionel CAN 0:28:23 2:02:25 1:12:20 3:45:39
2 Potts, Andy USA 0:24:00 2:06:59 1:14:02 3:47:22
3 Beals, Cody CAN 0:26:22 2:04:30 1:15:02 3:48:21
4 Giardini, David ITA 0:24:00 1:59:14 1:25:46 3:51:29
5 Brandon, Barrett USA 0:24:06 2:09:37 1:19:04 3:55:19
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Frederiksen, Helle DNK 0:25:42 2:19:49 1:19:39 4:07:52
2 Naeth, Angela CAN 0:29:37 2:19:36 1:21:43 4:13:50
3 Lidbury, Emma-Kate GBR 0:27:11 2:19:24 1:28:31 4:17:58
4 Williamson, Kelly USA 0:27:14 2:29:35 1:19:08 4:18:39
5 Piampiano, Sarah USA 0:31:22 2:19:50 1:26:03 4:20:19