Lieto, Tisseyre Win Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Triathlon

Both the United States Chris Lieto and Canada’s Magali Tisseyre earned their second 70.3 victories of the season at today’s Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Triathlon.

The day started with Stephen Hackett leading the men into T1. Behind him were New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone, the United States’ James Cotter and Lieto. With Lieto heading onto the bike with the lead pack of swimmers, it was only a matter of time before he took the lead and rode away from the pack. Lieto headed into T2 with a bike split of 2:08:04. Lieto has raced Bozzone several times this season and likely knew if he could hold off the fast-running Kiwi he would take the title. Lieto turned in a 1:23:41 run split to keep Bozzone just far enough back and take the win at 3:55:27. Bozzone crossed the finish line 90 seconds later. American Ben Hoffman turned in yet another podium performance to finish third.

Texas’ own Andrea Fisher led the women’s race out of the water at 23:49 with short-course star Rebecca Witinok-Huber exiting 30 seconds later. Tisseyre exited in fifth and quickly went to work to make up as much ground as possible. Behind her, Canada’s Angela Naeth hammered on the bike and eventually took the lead heading into T2 in first. Tissyere turned in a run performance similar to the one that gave her a podium placement at last year’s Ironman 70.3 World championship. Her 1:27:38 half-marathon gave her the win at 4:23:21. Naeth held on for second, with American Jessica Jacobs finishing third.

Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs
Lubbock, Texas—June 27, 2010
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Chris Lieto (USA) 3:55:27
2. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 3:57:06
3. Ben Hoffman (USA) 3:58:32
4. Tj Tollakson (USA) 4:00:43
5. James Cotter (USA) 4:05:21

Women
1. Magali Tisseyre (CAN) 4:23:21
2. Angela Naeth (CAN) 4:24:57
3. Jessica Jacobs (USA) 4:35:49
4. Amanda Lovato (USA) 4:38:35
5. Rebecca Witinok-Huber (USA) 4:41:24

Click here for complete results.