Matt Hanson (USA) and Angela Naeth (CAN), took home the title at the inaugural Little Debbie Ironman Chattanooga to Benefit Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America triathlon. They both earned their first career Ironman victories with times of 8:12:32 and 8:54:55, respectively.
The men’s swim was dominated by Americans Barrett Brandon (38:06) and Eric Limkemann (38:10), who came out of the water 2:16 ahead of the chase pack.
Limkemann quickly passed Brandon on the bike and was able to stay ahead of the rest of the field for the duration of the bike. Behind him a big group formed and only Canadian Trevor Wurtele was able to ride himself clear.
Limkemann was first to T2, starting the run just over six minutes ahead of Wurtele and nearly eight minutes up on a group of 10 that included the fast-running Hanson.
Averaging 5:45 miles through the first eight miles of the run, Hanson quickly passed Wurtele and Limkemann and never looked back thanks to his 2:47 marathon split on the hilly course. Hanson turned pro late in 2013 with his first professional race in Arizona just over a month after he had posted the fastest amateur run split at the Ironman World Championship (2:53). Since then he has set the marathon record at Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas and Ironman Coeur d’Alene (2:41 and 2:42).
Ironman Wisconsin champ Daniel Bretscher managed to run his way to the runner-up position, while Wurtele also got past Limkemann to round out the podium. After beating Limkemann out of the water, swim leader Brandon moved into fourth in the last mile, relegating Limkemann to fifth.
Top five professional Men’s results:
1. Matt Hanson, USA, 8:12:32
2. Daniel Bretscher, USA, 8:19:05
3. Trevor Wurtele, CAN, 8:22:00
4. Barrett Brandon, USA, 8:24:19
5. Eric Limkemann, USA, 8:25:50
The women’s race saw super-swimmer Anna Cleaver, a New Zealand native who makes Chattanooga her home, take the early lead. Cleaver’s 39:56 swim put her 1:43 ahead of a group that included Americans Kathryn Thomas, Christine Hammond, Kaitlin Anelauskas, Malaika Homo, Rebeccah and Laurel Wassner, along with Germany’s Nina Kraft.
Angela Naeth (CAN) was over five minutes back as she started the bike, but quickly moved towards the front of the pack. Cleaver lead for the first 70 miles, but Naeth steadily gained time and, by the 75-mile timing point, was about 20 seconds ahead of the Kiwi. As they hit the second transition, lead on the bike had grown to 12 minutes, making the race very much Naeth’s to lose.
The Canadian, who now lives in Las Vegas, cruised through a 3:15 marathon for a sub-9 clocking of 8:54:55 and the win. Naeth narrowly missed qualifying for this year’s Ironman World Championship, so the big race in Chattanooga served as a good start in her hunt for a spot on the Kona start line in 2015. Behind her there was an interesting battle for the rest of the podium as Ruth Brennan Murray, a former collegiate soccer player and marathon runner, flew through the run (3:02:55 split) to take second in 9:09:39, while Jennie Hansen ran her way to third. Laurel Wassner also managed to get past Cleaver, finishing fourth while the hometown hero settled for fifth.
Top five professional women’s results:
1. Angela Naeth, CAN, 8:54:55
2. Ruth Brennan Morrey, USA, 9:09:39
3. Jennie Hansen, USA, 9:12:37
4. Laurel Wassner, USA, 9:14:10
5. Anna Cleaver, NZL, 9:24:12
One of more than 35 events in the global Ironman Series, the Little Debbie Ironman Chattanooga to Benefit Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America triathlon led athletes along a swim in the Tennessee River, a bike through north Georgia and run throughout Chattanooga. The race started with a point to point swim in the Tennessee River. Once out of the water, athletes embarked upon the two-loop bike course with scenic farmland and mountain views. The two-and-a-half loop run course showcased a spectator-friendly downtown Chattanooga. The event offered a total professional prize purse of $25,000 and 50 coveted age group qualifying slots to the 2015 Ironman World Championship, taking place on Oct. 10 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
The much-anticipated event got underway under overcast skies that soon cleared. Some rain began to fall shortly after 4 p.m.
The competitors swam 2.4 miles in the river beginning at 7:15 a.m. prior to a 116-mile bicycle race and then a marathon covering both South Chattanooga and North Chattanooga.
Pro competitors started the swim first from a newly constructed dock near the Kenco facility on Riverside Drive. The first two male pro swimmers were climbing out of the water at Ross’s Landing by 8 a.m. They then headed for the bicycles parked nearby.
Crowds watched all along the route, including at the downtown bridges and the Chattanooga Pier. A line of small boats and paddle boarders marked the river route.
An announcer called the race at Ross’s Landing, where the event had its finish line.
There were all age categories with some competitors in their 70s. Long after the top pros had arrived back at Ross’s Landing, other competitors continually streamed across the Walnut Street Bridge up the hill. Cheering family and fans waved signs, blew horns and rattled cow bells. Some runners were still striving for the finish line long after dark.
The race was marred when vandals placed oil and nails on a section of the bicycle route in North Georgia. No one was injured, but it caused numerous flat tires.
The event had local hotels full and was expected to pump $8 million into the local economy.
Reported from The Chattanoogan.com
