Sanders Repeat, Lawrence Takes Win at Ironman Oceanside 70.3

By Wires April 2, 2017

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Lionel Sanders (CAN) topped his 2016 performance and an impressive professional field with a time of 3:50:04 while Holly Lawrence (GBR) made a strong 2017 debut with a time of 4:14:18 as both earned victories at the 2017 IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Oceanside triathlon. Sanders prevailed after holding a sizable lead for most of the day and finished with a seven-minute advance over Chris Leiferman (USA) who claimed a second place finish with a time of 3:53:15. Ronnie Schildknecht of Switzerland earned third in the men’s field with a time of 3:57:49.

Lawrence built upon a very successful 2016 campaign with a dominating season opening performance as she raced away from the competition Ellie Salthouse (CAN) came in second nearly 10 minutes back while last year’s winner Heather Wurtele finished third.

Top five professional men’s results:

SWIM BIKE RUN FINISH

Lionel Sanders CAN 00:25:20 02:05:42 01:14:07 03:50:04
Chris Leiferman USA 00:25:35 02:10:31 01:12:12 03:53:15
Ronnie Schildknecht CHE 00:25:47 02:14:09 01:13:09 03:57:49
Andreas Dreitz DEU 00:24:32 02:11:31 01:17:04 03:58:09
Andy Potts USA 00:23:40 02:15:08 01:14:37 03:58:25

Top five professional women’s results:

SWIM BIKE RUN FINISH

Holly Lawrence GBR 00:25:01 02:21:40 01:22:16 04:14:18
Ellie Salthouse AUS 00:25:39 02:27:32 01:23:59 04:23:21
Heather Wurtele CAN 00:26:15 02:26:31 01:26:55 04:25:22
Heather Jackson USA 00:28:47 02:28:49 01:23:01 04:25:52
Jennifer Spieldenner USA 00:24:59 02:30:31 01:27:07 04:28:07

The 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside triathlon saw more than 2,600 athletes representing 27 countries and 45 states start the race. Competitors ranged in age from 19–79 years old. One of more than 40 events in the global IRONMAN Series, the 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside triathlon led athletes along a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run throughout Oceanside and its surrounding areas. Athletes began their day with a single-loop swim in the calm and protected waters of Oceanside Harbor. Once out of the water, participants embarked upon a single-loop bike course at the Oceanside Harbor and ventured through Camp Pendleton and San Onofre Bluffs State Park. Athletes experienced rolling hills prior to San Mateo hill followed by two more hills only to come upon a flat but windy road back at the Oceanside Harbor. The double-loop run course wound along the Oceanside Pier and then out to Oceanside’s flat beachfront path known as “The Strand,” where miles of sandy beaches provide beautiful views. Offering a professional prize purse of $50,000, the race also awarded a total of 50 age-group qualifying slots for the 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship which will take place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The championship race will be a two-day event with the professional and age-group women racing on Saturday, September 9 and the professional and age-group men racing on Sunday, September 10.