Christian Kemp, Lesley Smith Win 70.3 Austin

Australia’s Christian Kemp and the United States’ Lesley Smith showed strong late-season form to earn the victories at Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Austin.

Men’s Race
The trio of Kevin Collington (USA), Kemp and Joe Umphenour (USA) led the men out of the 1.2-mile swim in about 23:46, with Brent Poulsen (CAN) and Francisco Serrano (MEX) chasing about 30 seconds back. The bike turned into a battle between Collington and Kemp, with both men dismounting at T2 at the same time thanks to similar bike splits (Collington at 2:12:14 and Kemp at 2:12:14). Kemp’s 1:14:58 half marathon earned him the victory in 3:53:35, with Collington earning second less than two minutes later at 3:55:47. Serrano’s race-best 1:13:54 run split gave him the final podium spot in 3:56:57.

Women’s Race
South Africa’s Jeannie Seymour was first into transition thanks to a 27:50 swim, with American Sarah Cameto right on her heels. Smith and Poland’s Ewa Komander started the bike well in contention, at about 30 seconds back. Seymour turned in a 2:33:32 bike split to hold the lead starting the run, with Smith coming off of the bike just eight seconds back. With the rest of the women nearly four minutes back, it became a battle between Seymour and Smith. Smith’s 1:25:18 gave her the edge and the victory in 4:29:46. Seymour earned second, holding off a fast-running Sue Huse (CAN) who claimed third thanks to a 1:24:20 run split.

Ironman 70.3 Austin
Austin, Texas – Oct. 26, 2014
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Christian Kemp (AUS) 3:53:35
2. Kevin Collington (USA) 3:55:35
3. Francisco Serrano (MEX) 3:56:57
4. Jeff Symonds (CAN) 3:57:22
5. Joe Umphenour (USA) 3:58:31

Women
1. Lesley Smith (USA) 4:29:46
2. Jeanni Seymour (RSA) 4:32:33
3. Sue Huse (CAN) 4:33:53
4. Sarah Cameto (USA) 4:39:23
5. Katya Meyers (USA) 4:39:23

Complete results.