The Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 SA is about to start as the excitement mounts amongst the athletes, with eager spectators eagerly looking on. Each one filled with anticipation to see his or her favorite athlete become a frontrunner in this first leg of the race.
The 5th edition of the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 SA is underway. Pro's in the water.
Wave 2 has kicked off. A sea of yellow swim caps racing into the ocean.
3rd wave is in the water.
First pros out of the water. Jodies Swallow first lady out of the water and Balazs Csoke for the males. Lucie Zelenkova second for the ladies.
Kent Horner first out of bike transition.
Jodie Swallow first women onto the bike
Andrea Steyn 3rd out of transition for the ladies
Top 5 men swim:
1) Edo Van Der Meer 00:26:29
2) Balazs Csoke 00:26:30
3) Mark Threlfall 00:26:31
4) Kent Horner 00:26:31
5) Marino Vanhoenacker 00:27:01
Top 5 Ladie Swim:
1) Jodie Swallow 00:26:56
2) Lucie Zelenkova 00:28:42
3) Andrea Steyn 00:31:17
4) Riana De Lange 00:31:21
5) Claire Horner 00:32:14
First Male age groupers out of the water.
Jodie Swallow maintaining a 2 minute lead on the ladies.
Local heroe Kent Horner in the lead for the males.
The atmosphere is electric at the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3. You can smell the adrenaline in the air.
Belgium power house Marino Vanhoenacker now leading for the males, followed by Edo Van Der Meer in second and Kent Horner in 3rd.
Male Pro's passing 20km mark
Jodie Swallow pulling away from the ladies in 1st, followed by Lucie Zelekova in 2nd and Tine Deckers in 3rd.
Leaders have just passed the 3rd water point.
Jodie Swallow leading Lucie Zelekova by 2minutes
Marino Vanhoenacker in first followed by Ronnie Schildknecht 2 seconds behind and Kent Horner in 3rd.
Edo Van Der Meer in 4th, Mark Threlfall in 5th followed by Balazs Csoke in 6th for the males.
Dominico Passuello in 7th for the males.
1st Male Pro just passed the 40km mark.
Freddy Lampret in 8th for the males and Joel Jameson in 10th.
1st Male passing turn around.
Leading male, Marino Vanhoenacker back on the road after fixing a puncture just past the 45km mark.
Vanhoenacker leading 3min43 ahead of Edo vd Meer with Schildknecht and Kent Horner in 3rd and 4th respectively. Domenico Passuello making up thee top 5 men.
1st female just passed turn around 45km mark. Jodie Swallow maintaining a good lead.
Marino Vanhoenacker just passed 60km mark.
Lucie Zelenkova in 2nd for the ladies followed by local heroe Claire Horner in 3rd
Vanhoenacker with a 3min lead on Van Der Meer and Jodie Swallow with a 4min lead on Lucie Zelenkova in 2nd.
Vanhoenacker just passed the 70km mark.
Leading lady Jodie Swallow passed the Nahoon Dam turn off. No one in sight of her.
Leading men just passed the 80km mark.
Super man Marino Vanhoenacker just into run transition.
Dominico Passuello in 2nd at transition followed Ronnie Schildknecht in 3rd with Kent Horner in 4th.
Jodie Swallow with a 5min lead on Lucie Zelenkova
Marino Vanhoenacker out on run course first with a 6min 40 sec lead.
Ronnie Schildknecht now in 2nd followed by Passuello.
Vanhoenacker just passed Virgin Active.
Leading lady Jodie Swallow just out of transition.
Top 5 Males out on the run:
1) Marino Vanhoenacker
2) Ronnie Schildkneckt
3) Domenico Passuello
4) Kent Horner
5) Mark Threlfall
Lucie Zelenkova through transition in 2nd for the ladies followed by Tine Deckers in 3rd.
Claire Horner now in 4th for the ladies and through transition.
Jodie Swallows just passed Virgin Active.
The Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 SA is about to start as the excitement mounts amongst the athletes, with eager spectators eagerly looking on. Each one filled with anticipation to see his or her favorite athlete become a frontrunner in this first leg of the race.
Kevin Mackinnon