Albert, Jacobs Win 70.3 Titles At Racine

Published July 15, 2012 02:37PM

Estonia’s Marko Albert and the United States’ Jessica Jacobs won today’s Ironman 70.3 Racine triathlon in Racine, Wisc. A big story of the day was the struggle of defending Ironman world champion Craig Alexander.

Men’s Race
Albert kicked off the day on the right foot by exiting the swim at the front of the pack with Australia’s Joseph Lampe, a full minute ahead of their next competitors. Alexander headed into T1 with the main group, but faced a day of struggles from there. At one point in the race it looked like it would be American Jordan Jones’ day. He had a great swim and posted a field-leading 2:05:34 bike split to put himself in first, but dropped out on the run and did not finish.

Albert added a 2:10:19 bike leg and a 1:22:35 half marathon to his stellar swim to beat out the rest of the pro men field. He posted the only sub-four hour time of the day, winning in 3:59:23. Great Britain’s Paul Ambrose spent the day chasing Albert and finished second in 4:02:04. Australia’s Tim Reed had one of the faster runs of the day to earn third.

Alexander had an uncharacteristic off day and felt flat according to his adviser Mat Steinmetz and struggled through a 2:18:27 bike and a 1:30:33 run to ultimately finish ninth.

American Dede Griesbauer took advantage of her strength as a swimmer and built a lead of more than three minutes heading into T1. Griesbauer went onto post a solid bike split, but it was Jacobs who had the stronger day. Jacobs followed up a slow swim (31:48) with a strong bike (2:22:46) and run (1:27:26) to take the 4:26:04 win. Griesbauer slowed on the run, but held on for second. Australia’s Chrisie Sym turned in a well-rounded day and narrowly held off Kristin Andrews of the United States for third.

Ironman 70.3 Racine
Racine, Wisc. – July 15, 2012
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Marko Albert, Marko (EST) 3:59:23
2. Paul Ambrose (GBR) 4:02:04
3. Tim Reed (AUS) 4:04:27
4. Joseph Lampe (AUS ) 4:04:54
5. Shanon Stallard (NZL) 4:06:48

Women
1. Jessica Jacobs (USA) 4:26:04
2. Dede Griesbauer (USA) 4:32:06
3. Christie Sym (AUS) 4:33:10
4. Kristin Andrews (USA) 4:33:22
5. Jackie Arendt (USA) 4:33:53