Potts, McBride Win Ironman 70.3 Calgary

American Andy Potts and Canadian Rachel McBride came out on top at today’s Ironman 70.3 Calgary race in the Alberta province of Canada.

Potts led out of the swim at 20:49 to start the bike ride on his own. Potts maintained that top spot until he was joined by fellow American Jordan Rapp up front. Rapp posted the fastest bike split of the day (2:02:31) to narrowly lead Potts into T2. Potts quickly took control on the run with former ITU athlete Will Clarke (GBR) working to chase him down. Potts’ 1:15:22 half marathon was enough to give him the 3:43:43 victory. Clarke finished second at 3:44:19, with American Brandon Marsh rounding out the top three at 3:47:32. Rapp finished fourth in 3:48:03.

Canadian Lisa Mensink led the women out of the water in 24:02, with Mandy McLane (USA) and Amy Marsh (USA) coming into T1 on her heels. McBride came out of the water a minute down and quickly worked to erase that deficit with her strong cycling skills. McBride turned in by far the fastest bike split of the women (2:13:36) to earn a nearly six-minute lead to start the run. She backed up her strong swim and bike with a stellar run (1:25:34) to easily take the victory and establish a new course record of 4:07:19.

Ironman 70.3 Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada – July 27, 2014
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Andy Potts (USA) 3:43:43
2. Will Clarke (GBR) 3:44:19
3. Brandon Marsh (USA) 3:47:32
4. Jordan Rapp (USA) 3:48:03
5. Grant Burwash (CAN) 3:54:25

Women
1. Rachel McBride (CAN) 4:07:19
2. Mandy McLane (USA) 4:16:12
3. Lisa Mensink (CAN) 4:17:47
4. Emma-Kate Lidbury (GBR) 4:19:29
4. Amy Marsh (USA) 4:21:13