Published August 29, 2010 04:50PM
Great Britain’s Paul Ambrose and Australia’s Rebekah Keat took victories at today’s Ironman Louisville race thanks to blazing bike splits.
American John Flanagan continued to prove he is one of the top swimmers in the sport, exiting the swim in a blazing 45:02. Nearly four minutes later, Ambrose and Denmark’s Martin Jensen took the bike course in search of Flanagan. Flanagan’s lead was short lived as Ambrose blazed by him in the early miles of the 112-mile bike course. Ambrose quickly got away from the rest of the field and headed into T2 with a large lead, thanks in large part to his 4:31:36 bike split. Jensen and Australia’s Jason Shortis entered T2 together for second and third positions heading out onto the run. While many speculated that Ambrose may have given too much to the swim and bike, he showed that he still had energy left for the run. His 3:05:09 marathon was easily enough to give him the dominating victory in 8:29:59. Nearly 12 minutes later Jensen crossed the finish line for second. American Max Longree used a 2:55:28 marathon to overcome a slow swim and bike to earn third.
The women’s race started with Germany’s Nina Kraft easily taking the swim in 50:12. Nearly three minutes later, Maki Nishiuchi and Hilary Biscay headed into T1. Keat was fifth out the swim, but the gap up to the lead continued to shrink for the Australian. She took the lead early on in the bike and never let it get away. Behind her as she hammered on the bike course. Kraft and Nishiuchi looked to be contenders for the podium through the majority of the bike, but both failed to finish the second leg of the race. With Kraft and Nishiuchi on the sidelines, Americans Caitlin Snow and Kim Loeffler gained position and headed onto the run course behind Keat. Loeffler looked to be gaining serious time on Keat in the early miles of the run, but she eventually slowed, leaving the door open for the Australian. Keat took her first Ironman win in three years in 9:33:15. Loeffler earned second in 9:44:23. American Bree Wee turned in her best Ironman performance of the year, finishing in third.
Ironman Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky – August 29, 2010
2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run
Men
1. Paul Ambrose (GBR) 8:29:59
2. Martin Jensen (DEN) 8:41:54
3. Max Longree (USA) 8:50:10
4. Patrick Evoe (USA) 8:53:14
5. Sergio Marques (PRT) 9:05:04
Women
1. Rebekah Keat (AUS) 9:33:15
2. Kim Loeffler (USA) 9:44:23
3. Bree Wee (USA) 9:50:35