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FIVE Sub-8’s at IRONMAN Texas as Hanson, Robertson win

Fast racing at IRONMAN Texas saw plenty of records go - with two excellent performances from British athletes Will Clarke and Caroline Livesey too
Chief Correspondent
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Fast racing at IRONMAN Texas, the North American Championshp

Another Sub-8 for Will Clarke plus a huge PB for Caroline Livesey

A little later than I’d like (thanks to a late night at a charity swimming event / early morning following the London Marathon), a quick roundup from Saturday’s IRONMAN Texas. You may well have read regular reports elsewhere, so, here’s a slightly stats-based alternative wrap…

IRONMAN Bike split record – 4:01:14

Andrew Starykowicz, (who already held the three fastest times of 4:02:17 (Florida 2013), 4:03:35 (Arizona 2015) and 4:04:39 (Florida 2012), set a new mark of 4:01:14. As epic as that is on its own, take a look at what Starky has had to comeback from over the last 12 months…

https://twitter.com/irunshirtless/status/855799426450939904

U.S. IRONMAN Record – 7:52:44

Matt Hanson won this race two years ago, and he repeated the feat in 2017 closing out his race with a 2:42:07 marathon. The result was a winning time of 7:52:44, to also take the U.S. Ironman record from Andy Potts (7:55:12 at IRONMAN Western Australia 2016)

PB for Will Clarke – 7:59:02

Joe Skipper was the first Brit to break the eight-hour mark for iron-distance at Roth last year, but Will Clarke now has the distinction of being the only Brit to have a 7:XX time twice. His 7:59:02 for fourth place, was 29 seconds quicker than his time at IRONMAN Copenhagen last year.

FIVE men under eight hours (for the first time)

There was a lot of pre-race talk about the potential speed of the course, and Matt Russell (USA) was public in hoping to break the eight hour mark. He came close, with 8:01:35… and that only earned him sixth position. For the first time ever, five men cracked the 8-hour barrier in one race.

Fast running

The top seven men all ran under 2:50 for the closing marathon. Will Clarke had the fastest split of 2:42:01.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erEJ6mXHpIw

Bad luck for Joe Skipper

Second here two years ago – in a race that saved his career – Joe was hoping for a big race after a distinctly average IRONMAN South Africa. All was going perfectly to plan, he was riding brilliantly with the main group having made up his swim deficit… and then got a puncture. Race over.

He’ll now be re-planning the next steps in his season

Another fast Jodie…

From a British perspective, we are used to seeing Jodie Stimpson and Jodie Swallow/Cunnama winning, but USA’s Jodie Robertson took the title in The Woodlands. Second in last years shortened event, she’s the 64th women to join the ‘Sub-9’ club with her 8:56:32 finish. The 2:34 marathon runner has made a very swift and successful transition to triathlon.

A third Sub-9 for Michi Herlbauer

The Austrian may be small in stature, but second place in 8:59:31 is her third entry on the Sub-9 listing.

Massive PB for Caroline Livesey – 9:18:33

You’ve seen her pre-race blogs (Part One | Part Two), and we’ll have her race report soon – but tenth place in 9:18:33 was a massive step up for Caroline – who previously won this race as an age-group athlete.

IRONMAN Texas North American Championship – Saturday 22nd April 2017
3.8km / 180km / 42.2km

PRO MEN

1st – Matt Hanson (USA) – 7:52:44
2nd – Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) – 7:56:21
3rd – Tyler Butterfield (BER) – 7:58:29
4th – Will Clarke (GBR) – 7:59:02
5th – Kirill Kotsegarov (EST) – 7:59:32
6th – Matt Russell (USA) – 8:01:35

19th – Andrew Starykowicz (USA) – 8:54:45

DNF – Joe Skipper (GBR)
DNF – Harry Wiltshire (GBR)

PRO WOMEN

1st – Jodie Robertson (USA) – 8:56:32
2nd – Michaela Herlbauer (AUT) – 8:59:31
3rd – Maja Stage-Nielsen (DEN) – 9:01:00
4th – Alicia Kaye (USA) – 9:04:40
5th – Tine Deckers (BEL) – 9:06:08

10th – Caroline Livesey (GBR) – 9:18:33

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.
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