Limkemann, Williamson Take Titles At Inaugural Rev3 Williamsburg

Americans Eric Limkemann and Kelly Williamson won the half-iron-distance Rev3 Williamsburg in Virginia. Pro triathletes competed for their share of a $50,000 prize purse plus $5,000 in primes at the inaugural race. This was Limkemann’s second Rev3 victory (he won the Rev3 Half Full last October), and he used a second-best swim and a race-best bike to build an insurmountable lead onto the run. Williamson, however, was third out of the swim, lost time to the leaders on the bike and ended up overcoming a 9:30 deficit out of T2 to pass Margaret Shapiro for the win in the final mile.

Men
In the men’s race, American Kyle Leto was first out of the 1.2-mile swim in the James River in a time of 26:17, with only a nine-second advantage over a pack of nine men that included Limkemann, 70.3 U.S. Pro champion Kevin Collington, 2012 Rev3 Series winner Richie Cunningham (AUS), and strong cyclist Andrew Starykowicz (USA). Limkemann pulled ahead early in the bike and dropped Leto, and Starykowicz pulled away from the pack of men. By 29 miles in, Limkemann had a 2:30 advantage over Leto, and 3:12 over Starykowicz. It looked as if it were only a matter of time until Starykowicz, who owns the Ironman world record for the bike, would catch Limkemann, but Limkemann maintained his lead into T2 (he had a race-best bike of 2:05:49), and Leto and Starykowicz finished the ride together five minutes back. American David Thompson, who had broken away from the pack, was fourth into T2 5:45 off the lead. Cunningham, who had been in the pack seven minutes back, shot out on the run, and reeled in Thompson, then Starykowicz. Limkemann maintained his lead to the finish. Thompson stuck with Cunningham, but the Aussie won the battle for second.

Women
In the women’s race, Canadian Tenille Hoogland was first out of the water in a time of 30:39. Lauren Goss (USA) exited the swim eight seconds back, and pre-race favorite Kelly Williamson (USA) exited the water 40 seconds behind Goss. American Margaret Shapiro was a minute and a half off the lead into T1, but quickly made up time on the bike and had gained the lead by mile 18. Goss tried to stay with Shapiro, but she started to pull away—at mile 29, Goss was 20 seconds back, Hoogland was 1:20 behind and Williamson had dropped to 4:50 back. Shapiro maintained her lead into T2, finishing the bike in a race-best time of 2:19:51, and had a 3:20 advantage over Hoogland, four minutes over Goss, and more than nine minutes over Williamson. The question remained whether the running strength of Goss and Williamson could get them to the top of the podium by the end of the half-marathon, and the two women started chipping away at Shapiro’s lead and soon passed Hoogland. Williamson ran a speedy half-marathon to catch Shapiro in the final mile and take the win. Goss rounded out the podium.

Rev3 Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Va.—June 23, 2013
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Eric Limkemann (USA) 3:53:41
2. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 3:59:00
3. David Thompson (USA) 3:59:17
4. Chris Leiferman (USA) 4:01:07
5. Andrew Starykowicz (USA) 4:01:42

Women
1. Kelly Williamson (USA) 4:23:29
2. Margaret Shapiro (USA) 4:23:45
3. Lauren Goss (USA) 4:26:19
4. Tenille Hoogland (CAN) 4:36:31
5. Jessica Jones (USA) 4:40:07

Complete results.

Join in the conversation about everything swim, bike and run. “Like” us on Facebook.