Search
shop

IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2022 results: Taylor Knibb dominates

Taylor dominant as she romps to a superb victory in California
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

It may have been her first victory over the distance, but Taylor Knibb’s stunning win at Saturday’s Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2022 was far from a shock result.

Third at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in her second start, Knibb is the real deal across all formats – and she showed just why in California on Saturday.

Swim – Fast five make a break

Knibb had made a huge mark on the sport in 2021. An Olympic silver medallist in the Mixed Team Relay, she also excelled in sprint, Olympic and middle-distance formats, including that third place at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.

In her first race of the 2022 season, Taylor was to the fore again, leading out a loose group of five athletes with a 23:22 swim split, followed by Pamella Oliveira (BRA), Lauren Brandon (USA), Holly Lawrence (GBR) and Luisa Baptista (BRA), who was 16 seconds back. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS), the recent winner of CLASH Miami, who was swimming alone, would likely be pretty pleased to have reached T1 just 40 seconds down on some serious swim talent.

A further minute passed before some of the key pre-race favourites started to arrive, including Paula Findlay (CAN), Chelsea Sodaro (USA) and Daniela Ryf (SUI) – leaving them 1:45 down on the lead. US duo Jackie Hering and Skye Moench were 2:30 down, with Heather Jackson (USA) and Ruth Astle (GBR) over four minutes behind the leader Knibb.

Bike – Taylor rides away

With Knibb taking additional time in T1 to put on socks ahead of the bike leg, it was 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Lawrence who was first out onto the 90km bike course. While Taylor lost half a minute prepping, it didn’t take too long before the Cornell University graduate was back at the front and riding away, solo. Unlike last year, on her new TT bike too.

An hour into the ride and Knibb was 90 seconds up on Baptista, with Lawrence two minutes down and the Ryf/Findlay duo now three minutes back. Gentle was just 15 seconds behind Daniela and Paula, but in danger of losing touch with the front of the race.

Through some of the hills in Camp Pendleton and 40 miles in, Knibb was still in control in front but Baptista was riding strong and just 1:44 down. Findlay had pulled clear of Ryf to join Lawrence, that pair were now 3:45 down. Daniela meanwhile was in the unusual position of riding in fifth place, 4:41 back and losing time.

Once the 90km was ticked off, Knibb headed into T2 with a three=minute advantage over Lawrence and Baptista, with Findlay losing 30 seconds over the closing miles in fourth. Fifth and sixth into T2 and pretty much together were Ryf and Jackie Hering, 5:41 back.

Gentle, Moench, Sodaro and Astle came next – and separated by less than a minute – there was still plenty of racing to be done over the half marathon.

Run – Knibb brings it home

Based on her 2021 form and performances, a three-minute lead for Knibb had a strong sense of ‘race over’ in terms of the top step on the podium, even with 21km of running to come. That would prove to be the case.

Baptista was looking fantastic in second place, but 6km in and her gain on Knibb was just 11 seconds – still 2:49 back. Lawrence was still moving well in third (+3:11), with Findlay now five minutes down in fifth. Ryf, unfortunately for the sport, was fading down the field.

IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2022: Taylor Knibb winning
Photo Credit: Donald Miralle / IRONMAN

There were none of the dramatics we saw late in the men’s race. The top three finishers all ran 1:17 half-marathons, leaving the final podium as Knibb came home with a winning margin of more than two minutes on Baptista, with Lawrence – and blisters – a strong third.

No podium this week for Gentle, but a 1:16:36 run shows that she will have a strong future in this format. Hering rounded out the top five.

IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2022: Luisa Baptista
Luisa Baptista (2nd) Photo Credit: Donald Miralle / IRONMAN

Ryf eventually came home in 10th, and would later be a DQ for speeding on the downhill. A ‘tough day at the office’ for Daniela, as she would later reflect.

IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2022 Results

Pro Women

Saturday April 2, 2022 – 1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

  • 1. Taylor Knibb (USA) – 4:06:32
  • 2. Luisa Baptista (BRA) – 4:08:45
  • 3. Holly Lawrence (GBR) – 4:09:17
  • 4. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) – 4:12:21
  • 5. Jackie Hering (USA) – 4:13:46
  • 6. Paula Findlay (CAN) – 4:15:09
  • 7. Chelsea Sodaro (USA) – 4:16:07
  • 8. Skye Moench (USA) – 4:18:17
  • 9. Ruth Astle (GBR) – 4:18:37
  • 10. Danielle Lewis – 4:22:51

NB: Daniela Ryf originally finished 10th, then DQ for speeding in the downhill

IRONMAN 70.3 Women's podium - Taylor Knibb, Luisa Baptista, Holly Lawrence
Photo Credit: Donald Miralle / IRONMAN
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
Ruth Astle finishing IRONMAN Vitoria 2024
PremiumHow to cope with a DNF: Elite athletes share their stories
PremiumIs your evening workout routine wrecking your recovery? Expert physiologist on how to improve recovery and what NOT to do
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
03/07/2025 - Tour de France 2025 - Grand départ Jour 2 - Lille - Présentation des équipes -Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike)
PremiumWhat triathletes can learn from the Tour de France pro peloton
latest News
Dan Lorang Head of Performance BORA - hansgrohe
Touching and heartfelt tribute from Anne Haug’s coach after she announces triathlon retirement
Sam Long - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
‘No No No’ – culture shock and bike crash for American star Sam Long in Italy
Georgia Taylor Brown wins supertri Chicago 2024 photo credit supertri
Georgia Taylor-Brown on enjoying her busy “year off” and wanting “to go out on a bit of a high”
challenge roth race ranger
Challenge Roth publish RaceRanger anti-drafting data from both pro races in a first for triathlon
Sam Laidlow celebrates Challenge Roth win 2025
IRONMAN Leeds 2025: Date, start time and how to follow live
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...