Amberger, Ellis Win Singapore 70.3

Warm, humid weather made the fast, flat course a challenge for the 1500 competitors at this year’s Singapore 70.3. Twenty-three year-old Australian ITU athlete, Josh Amberger, proved the humidity was no match for him, cinching the men’s title. And recent Ironman star Mary Beth Ellis proved she’s still a dominant force in the 70.3 distance, finishing almost six minutes ahead of the second place woman.

Men’s Race
New Zealand’s Dylan McNeice, 27, led the men out of the water in the two-lap, no-wetsuit salt water swim. He posted a swim time of just over 24 minutes. But he couldn’t hold off the rest of the men in the 80-degree weather with 100 percent humidity. Christian Kemp was first out of T2 (he biked a 2:06:28) and onto the flat three-loop run course, followed closely by Josh Amberger. Amberger quickly put a gap on his fellow competitors, a gap that widened when Kemp dropped out during the second lap, leaving the podium open to the racer best suited to the humidity. Amberger proved to be that racer, clinching the win in 3:54:49. Denis Vasiliev took second, with Dylan McNeice rounding out the podium.

Women’s Race
American Mary Beth Ellis, 35, was first out of the water with a two-minute lead, gliding through the warm water in 26:42. She took off on the three-lap bike with six of the lead men, furthering her advantage over the rest of the women. Ellis stayed out in front straight through T2 and onto the run, turning the race into a fight for second place. Ellis finished victorious in 4:19:35—two minutes faster than she raced this event last year. Michelle Wu ran her way into second, one place better than she achieved in 2011. Kate Bevilaqua rounded out the podium.

Ironman 70.3 Singapore
Singapore – March 18, 2012
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Josh Amberger – 3:54:49
2. Denis Vasiliev – 3:59:25
3. Dylan McNeice – 4:00:51
4. Alessandro Degasperi – 4:01:15
5. Nick Waninger – 4:05:12

Women
1. Mary Beth Ellis – 4:19:35
2. Michelle Wu – 4:25:31
3. Kate Bevilaqua – 4:32:19
4. Alison Fitch – 4:34:22
5. Irina Kirchler – 4:40:18

Complete results here.