O’Donnell, Steffen Win Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship In Thailand
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The United States’ Tim O’Donnell and Switzerland’s Caroline Steffen finished off their 2010 seasons with wins at the 2010 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship in Phuket, Thailand. Both athletes entered the race fresh of off world championship podium performances. Steffen finished second to Mirinda Carfrae at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. O’Donnell earned third behind Michael Raelert and Filip Ospaly at the Ironman World Championship 70.3 race in Clearwater, Fla.
O’Donnell started the day off by leading the men out of the swim with a time of 24:34. Japan’s Hideo Fukui followed ten seconds later, with New Zealand’s Bryan Rhodes heading into T1 in third position. O’Donnell attacked the hilly bike course, posting a 2:13:04 bike split. He held his lead onto the half marathon, with Great Britain’s Paul Ambrose chasing close behind out of T2. O’Donnell capped his wire-to-wire performance with a 1:19:43 half marathon to take the win in 3:59:42. Italy’s Massimo Cigana ran his way from fifth off of the bike to second at the finish line. Fukui rounded out the podium in third.
Australia’s Anna Cleaver began the race as the women’s leader thanks to a swim performance of 26:16. Steffen followed into T1 15 seconds later and quickly made her presence on the bike known. Steffen cycled a dominant 2:23:02, keeping her on pace with the men’s chase pack. Although Australia’s Belinda Granger made contact with Steffen during the earlier miles of the bike, she eventually faded and started the run six minutes back of Steffen. Steffen remained strong once off of the bike posting a 1:27:17 run time for an overall winning time of 4:20:13. Australia’s Melissa Rollison ran an impressive 1:23:30 on the tough course to earn second, with Granger holding on for third.
Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship
Phuket, Thailand – December 5, 2010
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run
Men
1. Timothy O’Donnell (USA) 3:59:42
2. Massimo Cigana (ITA) 4:01:52
3. Hideo Fukui (JAP) 4:04:00
4. Domenico Passuello (ITA) 4:06:51
5. Chris Legh (AUS) 4:07:25
Women
1. Caroline Steffen (SUI) 4:20:13
2. Melissa Rollison (AUS) 4:24:53
3. Belinda Granger (AUS) 4:30:49
4. Michelle Wu (AUS) 4:32:13