Published September 11, 2011 07:05PM
This unique race featured both full and half-iron distance events raced simultaneously, with the halfers taking off over an hour after the full athletes. Starting and ending at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, the course had participants swim in Lake Eerie, bike through the rolling hills of rural Eerie County, and run by the waterfront, finishing at the park.
Written by: Erin Beresini
Today’s pro race was the full event, and some big names showed up, aiming to take home part of the $100,000 prize purse and to earn series points. (Series winners get a $15,000 bonus.) Rev3 Portland Half winner, Graham O’Grady, came to improve his series standings and take home today’s $16,000 first place prize. But Chicago-based triathlete Andrew Starykowicz wouldn’t let that happen. Starykowicz won the men’s race in 8:28:16. On the women’s side, Ironman champions Kate Major and Hillary Biscay raced well, but not well enough to beat Malaika Homo, who nabbed the win in 9:19:15.
Men’s Race
Graham O’Grady led the men out of the water in 47:38, with only Andrew Starykowicz within a minute of him. O’Grady tore out of T1 with Starykowicz ready to bike him down. O’Grady kept a tight leash on super biker Starykowicz throughout the bike, ready to fight for the win, coming into T2 close to him. By about 10K into the run, O’Grady moved back into the lead, with Starykowicz now chasing him down and David Thompson in a distant third place. But O’Grady had some trouble late in the run and had to walk, opening up the race to Starykowicz, who won in 8:28:16.
Women’s Race
Malaika Homo crushed the swim, exiting the water almost a minute ahead of Hillary Biscay in 56:09. She held her lead on the bike while a chase pack of Biscay, Kate Major and Kathleen Calkins formed a few minutes behind her. Homo averaged just over 22 mph on the bike to maintain her lead into T2 with Calkins and Major a few minutes behind. Biscay, who was racing Rev3 Cedar Point as a celebration of having just completed her 50th Ironman, had faded by the end of the bike. Homo maintained her lead throughout the marathon, dominating this race and winning in 9:19:15.
Rev3 Cedar Point
Cedar Point, Ohio – Sept. 11, 2011
2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run
Men
1. Andrew Starykowicz 8:28:16
2. Chris McDonald 8:33:17
3. David Thompson 8:38:32
4. Pedro Gomes 8:46:14
5. Daniel Bretscher 8:48:29
Women
1. Malaika Homo 9:19:15
2. Kate Major 9:29:57
3. Paolina Allan 9:45:40
4. Lisa Ribes 9:49:01
5. April Gellatly 9:53:25