Second for 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, Holly Lawrence, in California
Germany’s Anne Haug continued her impressive string of races over the middle distance format, winning IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside on Saturday.
The 2012 ITU Triathlon Grand Final winner kick-started her non-drafting career with victory last year at IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote, passing Great Britain’s Lucy Charles on the run. From there followed a thrilling second place at IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain, coming up just ten seconds short of catching Great Britain’s Holly Lawrence, before reversing that with an even more impressive display to win IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai in February, highlighted by a blistering 1:14:11 run split.
That Haug / Lawrence rivalry looks set to continue; the pair will surely be in the mix when the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship comes around in September. As with the men’s race (report HERE), the competition is looking very strong.
The day started with another former ITU star, Sarah True, leading out a trio of athletes including Lawrence and Jennifer Spielender (USA) from the opening 1.9km swim. Haug (26:31), was two and a half minutes back at the stage – a weakness she will likely want to reduce before those World Champs come around.
The gap from @Holly_Lawrence_ to @haug_anne is now at 1:22 with 12 miles remaining on the bike. #IM703Oceanside
🎥 @bahrainendurance13 pic.twitter.com/vBLy1QRjhN
— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) April 7, 2018
Holly Lawrence has more than proved her swim-bike credentials over the last couple of years, and by the 60km mark of the ride, she was clear in front on her own. The surprise – perhaps – was that Haug was now in second place on her own and had actually ridden faster than the speedy defending champion. Her run is no surprise – but she proved she can bike too!
By T2 Holly had a lead of 1:47 over Anne, with Heather Jackson third (+4:45) and Sarah True / Jeanni Seymour together in 4th/5th, almost seven minutes in arrears of Lawrence.
True to prior form, Haug was gaining ground from the start in the run, making the pass around the 7km mark. The German would push on to another impressive split (1:16:24), to take the win, with Lawrence – third in 2015, fourth in 2016 and winner in 2017 – adding a second place trophy to her Oceanside collection via a 1:22:35 half marathon. Sarah True completed the podium.
IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside – Saturday 7th April 2018
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km – PRO WOMEN
1st – Anne Haug (GER) – 4:12:03
2nd – Holly Lawrence (GBR) – 4:16:26
3rd – Sarah True (USA) – 4:21:53
4th – Heather Jackson (USA) – 4:23:53
5th – Jeanni Seymour (RSA) – 4:28:25
6th – Paula Findlay (CAN) – 4:29:22
7th – Jennifer Spielender (USA) – 4:31:45
8th – Kelsey Withrow (USA) – 4:32:05
9th – Skye Moench (USA) – 4:35:31
10th – Minna. Koistinen (FIN) – 4:38:14