Aussie Repeat in St. Croix
Laid back. That’s how most first-time visitors to St. Croix Ironman 70.3 describe the atmosphere. However, once the gun went off promptly at 6:30 a.m., the nearly 40 professional triathletes racing for the $50,000 prize purse, were anything but laid back. But when all was said and done, the day was déjà vu all over again … 2006. Can you say, “Aussie, Aussie”?
THE MEN
Craig Alexander loves St. Croix. He had won here each of the past two years, as well as in 2003, and a victory today would tie him with legendary Mike Pigg at four victories apiece. He would succeed (Pigg, by the way, came to St. Croix to help celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this classic race, and he competed in and won the Sprint race earlier in the morning).
New Zealander Bryan Rhodes led all competitors out of the water, followed closely by four-time world champion Simon Lessing, Belgium’s Frederik Van Lierde (who would crash and DNF on the bike), 2005 Ironman world champion Faris Al-Sultan and Alexander. Paul Ambrose and Richie Cunningham quickly bridged the gap with Ambrose leading everyone into the base of “The Beast” - a 600-foot climb with an average grade of 14 percent and a max of 21 percent! Slipping smartly on the inside of one of the last corners of The Beast, Australia’s Cunningham – who finished second here last year – won the prime to the top of the hill.
Ambrose, who finished just behind Alexander and Andy Potts in March at Ironman 70.3 California, showed his bike strength by leading the field into T2. Marino Vanhoenacker of Belgium, however, set a new bike course record (2:19:10); and, after a disappointing swim which found him two minutes behind the leaders, was able to finish the bike in second place, a minute behind Ambrose,and 2:30 up on the likes of Cunningham, Alexander, Lessing and Al-Sultan, who all rode in together (legally, that is).
Once out on the run, however, it was Crowie’s day to shine. His 1:15:59 run split was just 16 seconds off the record run he set last year, and nearly four minutes faster than any of the other men. Vanhoenacker, two-time winner of Ironman Austria and fifth at Kona last year, ran a 1:21:40 to finish second, with Cunningham giving everything he had to hold off Al-Sultan to finish third. Cunningham would quickly visit – and stay in – the medical tent following his effort.
“I felt comfortable in the swim. Faris was really driving the pace hard on the bike until Richie went for the prime. And then Marino went right through us around 30 miles. I know he had about a two-minute lead going into the run; but, I felt fairly comfortable,” said Alexander after the race. The crowd welcomed the Australian, who has clearly become a favorite here, by singing “Happy Birthday” to his 3-year-old daughter, Lucy. She and Daddy (and Mom, Neri) can celebrate the day away on this wonderful island.
THE WOMEN
It was to be a showdown between last year’s champion, Julie Dibens, and 2006 winner and 2007 Ironman 70.3 world champion, Mirinda Carfrae. It was not to be. While Dibens came out of the swim in first place, she withdrew early on the bike (reason unknown at press time); however, a race was still on, and it quickly became a four-person affair. Felicity Hart of Great Britain, in her first time racing St. Croix, had the fastest bike of the day among the women (2:37:23), allowing her to exit T2 in first place, two minutes ahead of Carfrae. Carfrae made a small break near the end of the bike from German Nina Kraft (who won the bike prime at the top of The Beast), and first-year pro, Bree Wee. The three had stayed close throughout the bike.
Once onto the run, however, it was all “Rinny." Blazing out of T2 chasing Hart, Carfrae made up 1:20 in the first two miles of the run and completed the run nearly three minutes faster than any of her competitors. Hart would go on to finish fifth, while Kraft would run the second-fastest time of the day to capture second place, followed by Wee and Tyler Stewart.
Kraft, at the age of 40, looked strong throughout and has not yet decided whether to focus upon Kona (she earned a slot by winning Florida last year) or Clearwater. Carfrae knows what she’s doing: “I’m concentrating on Ironman 70.3 this year – I’m only 27 and have a long way to go.” There is little doubt that we will see her join her Zoot teammate at the Ironman world championship in 2009; until then, we will be seeing plenty of her on the podium at 70.3s around the world.
CEO CHALLENGE AND AGE GROUP
Shayne Macherowski, CEO of Evergreen L.A.N.D. From Steamboat Springs, Colorado, won a slot to Hawaii by winning the CEO Challenge in St. Croix in a time of 5:15. Kim Nelson, last year’s CEO Challenge champion from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, finished second in 5:30 and Mike Ochstein of Dallas finished third.
Over 700 athletes competed in this year’s St. Croix 70.3, up notably from 2007. Thierry Verbinnen, 29, from Belgium, turned in the age-group performance of the day for the men – 11th overall in 4:20:07. Craig Howie, 31, from Boulder, Colorado was second and 15th overall. Stacey Richardson, 35, from North Carolina, was the top age-group female in 5:03, finishing ninth overall among the women.
St. Croix Ironman 70.3
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Sunday, May 4, 2008
1.2mi S/56mi B/13.1mi R
Men's Results
1. Craig Alexander (AUS) 4:05:34
2. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) 4:08:41
3. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 4:10:02
4. Faris Al-Sultan (GER) 4:10:15
5. Paul Ambrose (AUS) 4:12:02
Women's Results
1. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 4:26:56
2. Nina Kraft (GER) 4:36:33
3. Bree Wee (USA) 4:36:45
4. Tyler Stewart (USA) 4:46:31
5. Felicity Hart (GBR) 4:47:13
Barry Siff, owner of 5430 Sports, is a race director, writer and triathlete living in Boulder with his wife, Jodee, and dog, Jackpot.
