Grace Alexander made it two wins in the space of a week as she defended her title at IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga on Sunday.
The American overhauled Danielle Lewis early on the run and then held off a charging Vittoria Lopes for an exciting win at 70.3 Gulf Coast the week before but the victory in Chattanooga was more emphatic.
Here in Chattanooga she led by over a minute after the swim, extended that on the bike and then rounded it off on the run.
Double delight
Alexander was out of the water in 28:06 which was 1:15 in front of compatriot Emily Pincus and more than two minutes on the rest.
Onto the bike and multiple Canadian time trial champion Paula Findlay was the one to start to close and she got to around a minute back at the halfway point.
But Alexander responded and reaching T2 she was now a fraction over two minutes to the good over Findlay, with Jackie Hering (USA) third at +6:16.
Things held steady on the run – Alexander’s lead was 2:22 at halfway and it was a similar gap at the finish.
Hering had closed though, to +3:19, as she took third and Alexander said afterwards: “Sharing a podium with two women I’ve looked up to in the sport since I started.”
No No No for Long as MacLean surprises
There was no repeat in the men’s race for Sam Long (USA) though.
‘Yo Yo Yo’ was the defending champion and came in to it on the back of last week’s win at 70.3 Gulf Coast.
He was 2:37 in arrears and 22nd after the swim and though he made his customary charge through the field on the bike to third, he was still 3:39 behind Jeremy MacLean, a Brit-American who only turned 21 the Monday before and was about to make his name in incredible style.
MacLean remained in charge on the run until a late wobble saw Ari Klau (USA) close right up but he held on for the win, 10 seconds ahead of Klau as Matt Hanson (USA) overhauled Long for the final podium spot.
