Alexander, Steffen Win In Singapore
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Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander of Australia and Caroline Steffen of Switzerland took early-season wins at Ironman 70.3 Singapore on Sunday. Alexander’s win is his second 70.3-win of the season, while Steffen’s victory comes just one week after placing fourth at the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.
The day started off with Australia’s Paul Matthews leading the men out of the 1.2-mile swim with a time of 25:24. New Zealand’s Bryan Rhodes, Australia’s Mark Jansen and Alexander all headed into T1 on the heels of Matthews. The bike leg saw a few lead changes, with a pack of several men hanging together throughout the entire 56 miles. Alexander headed onto the run in fourth place, within seconds of the leader, Great Britain’s Stephen Bayliss. Within the first few miles, Alexander used his dominating run to take the lead and never looked back. Alexander took his second-straight win on this course thanks to a time of 3:53:31. Team TBB member James Cunnama of South Africa used a fast run to finish second at 3:54:31. Australia’s Aaron Farlow kept the podium under four hours with a finishing time of 3:55:31.
Although the women’s professional field was limited in numbers, it still provided for an exciting race. Great Britain’s Jodie Swallow was the fastest woman out of the water at 26:10. Swallow carried her momentum onto the bike and led into T2. Throughout the bike, Steffen kept Swallow within striking distance and waited until the third leg of the race to make her move. Steffen posted the fastest half marathon of the women at 1:25:54 to take the win at a time of 4:18:14. Swallow held on for second at 4:26:32, with the United States’ Margaret Shapiro taking third with a time of 4:31:37.
Ironman 70.3 Singapore
Singapore – March 21, 2010
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run
Men
1. Craig Alexander (AUS) 3:53:31
2. James Cunamma (RSA) 3:54:23
3. Aaron Farlow (AUS) 3:55:45
4. Kent Horner (RSA) 4:03:28
5. Stephen Bayliss (GBR) 4:06:51
Women
1. Car0line Steffen (SUI) 4:18:14
2. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 4:26:32
3. Margaret Shapiro (USA) 4:31:37
4. Erin O’Hara (NCL) 4:33:05
5. Anna Cleaver (NZL) 4:34:57