LEGH, CARFRAE CRUISE TO WINS AT LAKE STEVENS
USA's Tim O'Donnell led the men on the out-and-back swim, recording a 22:53. On O'Donnell's shoulder was Michael Fox of Australia just a second behind the leader. Another Aussie, veteran Chris Legh, was 35 seconds back while Canadian Trevor Wurtele, American Chris Bagg and another Canuck rounding out the top six with deficits ranging from 2:27 - 2:57.
It was on the strength of the race-best bike of 2:18:59 that O'Donnell biked his way into transition carrying a 1:23 advantage over Legh. Wurtele was also enjoying a strong performance on the bike that place him solidly in third, 4:15 back from O'Donnell; more importantly, the lanky Wurtele built up a 5:00 buffer between himself and USA's Karl Bordine who starting the run in fourth. Barring a complete meltdown from the three front-runners, the podium was to be determined on the double-looped course through Lake Stevens.
O'Donnell rarely relinquishes the lead when starting the run with the lead, however today he was no match for Legh. The Australian showed that he still possesses some great foot speed, as he proceeded to lay down the fastest run split of the day. Recording a 1:14:26 run--a full 3:52 faster than O'Donnell's run--resulted in a 20 second winning margin. Equally impressive was Wurtele's performance in placing third, three minutes back of Legh's winning time and 40 seconds behind O'Donnell. Wurtele has showed steady improvement this year, and has proven to be a contender in any race he starts.
Professional men's results
1 Chris Legh USA 4:01:29
2 Tim O'Donnell USA 4:01:49
3 Trevor Wurtele CAN 4:02:29
4 Karl Bordine USA 4:14:16
5 Chris Bagg USA 4:14:37
6 Mathew Russell USA 4:17:45
7 Nathan Killam CAN 4:24:18
8 Scott Tremblay CAN 4:27:12
9 Michael Fox AUS 4:29:11
In the women's race, Canadian Tenille Hoogland showed her consistent dominance in water and stroked out a 24:45 with American Teresa Nelson benefitting swimming in her wake. American Christine Anderson and Aussie Mirinda Carfrae exited the water shoulder-to-shoulder, just under two minutes behind the towering Canadian leader.
Carfrae laid down the fastest bike split of the day at 2:37:43, placing her in the lead at the conclusion of the new 56-mile rolling bike course that takes athletes through Lake Roesiger Park before returning to Lake Stevens. Hoogland, who normally boasts of having one of the strongest swim and bike combinations had to settle for coming into T2 in second and starting the run on a foot that has limited her training and racing throughout most of the season. USA's MacKenzie Madison and Christine Anderson came in with 4:55 and 6:58 deficits to Carfrae, respectfully.
Carfrae hit the run at a blistering pace, extending her lead with each passing mile. Her 1:19:31 run split over the 13.1-mile run helped turn her lead into an 11:50 winning margin over Hoogland. Madison held off a late charge from behind being mounted by American Uli Bromme to claim the final podium placing.
Professional women's results
1 Mirinda Carfrae USA 4:26:38
2 Tenille Hoogland CAN 4:38:28
3 MacKenzie Madison USA 4:42:27
4 Uli Bromme USA 4:42:48
5 Gillian Clayton CAN 4:45:11
6 Beth Walsh USA 4:45:38
7 Christine Anderson USA 4:48:28
8 Christine Fletcher CAN 4:53:34
9 Teresa Nelson USA 5:04:31
