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Ironman Texas 2015 – Analyzing Results

Race Conditions

As usual, the race in the Woodlands was hot and steamy, especially as the race progressed. The swim and bike were pretty much as they always are – the bike times were fast as expected. During the run, the athletes struggled a bit more – the run adjustment was -3:51 and we saw a pretty large number of DNFs. This year’s race had an overall adjustment of 8:36 and leading to a new course rating of 11:17.

The conditions lead to an interesting mix of records:

  • a new men’s bike course record by Joe Skipper – his 4:10:07 was the third fastest bike leg in an Ironman ever (only Andrew Starykowicz posted two faster splits in Florida), improving on the old record by Mathias Hecht (4:18:17 in 2012)
  • a new women’s bike course record by Corinne Abraham – her 4:40:39 improved on the old record by Rachel Joyce (04:42:29 in 2013)
  • a new overall male course record by Matt Hanson – his 8:07:03 improved on Eneko Llanos’ 8:08:20 from 2011
  • a new fastest 2015 IM marathon by Kelly Williamson in 3:01:02, improving on Susie Cheetham’s 3:03:38 in SouthAfrica

Male Race Results

Joe Skipper and Lionel Sanders put out two spectacular bike rides, and even with having to make up some time after the swim, they had a decent lead going into the run. Lionel quickly looked like he was working hard and was slowly dropping back from Joe. Matt Hanson was quickly working his way to the front, and the cameras were surprised when he was taking the lead around the half-marathon mark.

TexasMatt

He slowed down a bit on the third run loop, but won by almost ten minutes in front of Joe Skipper. Third place went to veteran racer Ronnie Schildknecht, who had one of only three sub-3h marathons.

Rank Name Nation Swim Bike Run Time Diff to expected Prize Money
1 Matt Hanson USA 00:55:02 04:21:25 02:45:47 08:07:03 -28:02 US$ 30000
2 Joe Skipper GBR 00:55:09 04:10:07 03:04:35 08:16:26 -17:58 US$ 15000
3 Ronnie Schildknecht SUI 00:55:07 04:24:27 02:55:54 08:21:03 02:08 US$ 8000
4 Lionel Sanders CAN 00:57:19 04:11:25 03:11:22 08:24:54 n/a US$ 6500
5 Pedro Gomes POR 00:54:48 04:32:02 02:54:43 08:26:42 -08:22 US$ 5000
6 Jeremy Jurkiewicz FRA 00:48:45 04:31:34 03:05:45 08:31:30 05:08 US$ 3500
7 Matthew Russell USA 00:59:35 04:27:01 03:00:51 08:33:28 -09:11 US$ 2500
8 Ben Hoffman USA 00:49:29 04:20:38 03:18:30 08:33:55 11:00 US$ 2000
9 David Plese SLO 00:54:59 04:21:20 03:14:37 08:36:32 05:50 US$ 1500
10 Jarmo Hast FIN 00:52:57 04:37:12 03:03:41 08:39:48 00:47 US$ 1000
11 Matthew Curbeau USA 00:55:05 04:31:32 03:17:11 08:49:29 -27:21
12 Raymond Botelho USA 00:55:12 04:30:03 03:46:43 09:19:07 -01:53
13 Patrick Schuster USA 01:06:56 04:38:27 03:46:49 09:38:36 12:09
14 Timothy Clarke USA 00:58:14 04:53:08 03:41:36 09:39:23 n/a
15 Peter Kotland CZE 01:03:09 04:46:06 03:44:29 09:40:54 -08:41
16 Mario Radevic DEU 01:03:58 04:51:35 03:39:42 09:42:07 n/a
Todd Skipworth AUS 00:48:05 04:28:12 DNF
Barrett Brandon USA 00:48:07 04:28:39 DNF
Jonathan Shearon USA 00:55:08 04:22:25 DNF
Andreas Raelert GER 00:49:58 04:30:26 DNF
Chad Holderbaum USA 00:55:10 04:40:47 DNF
Faris Al-Sultan GER 00:48:44 04:47:17 DNF
Victor Del Corral ESP 01:03:06 04:37:37 DNF
Patrick Wheeler USA 00:55:01 04:50:44 DNF
Jordan Rapp USA 00:55:05 04:53:35 DNF
Patrice Brisindi CAN 01:01:39 05:13:33 DNF
Jorge Vazquez MEX 00:54:54 07:18:50 DNF
Chris McDonald AUS 00:54:57 DNF

As the winner, Matt Hanson gets an automatic Kona slot. Ben Hoffmann (9.650), Lionel Sanders (7.680), and Ronnie Schildknecht (5.310) are in safe Kona territory. Pedro Gomes (4.090) and Joe Skipper (4.015) are closer but should be fine. Jeremy Jurkiewicz (2.755) and Matt Russell (2.160) still have to race for more points.

Female Race Results

Angela Naeth had to make up six minutes after the swim, but she quickly joined Rachel Joyce and Leanda Cave at the front. Angela and Leanda then rode away and came into T2 within seconds of each other. On the run, Angela was running just a little bit faster than Leanda and won the race by roughly three minutes.

TexasAngela

Leanda finished second and also went sub-9. Rachel finished in third place with a decent 3:14 run.

Rank Name Nation Swim Bike Run Time Diff to expected Prize Money
1 Angela Naeth CAN 00:59:35 04:41:38 03:09:13 08:55:19 -24:55 US$ 30000
2 Leanda Cave GBR 00:53:13 04:47:43 03:12:02 08:58:12 -17:44 US$ 15000
3 Rachel Joyce GBR 00:53:08 04:52:35 03:14:00 09:05:02 06:42 US$ 8000
4 Kelly Williamson USA 00:55:17 05:06:43 03:01:02 09:08:34 -13:55 US$ 6500
5 Corinne Abraham GBR 01:03:24 04:40:39 03:22:45 09:12:20 -03:06 US$ 5000
6 Sarah Piampiano USA 01:04:04 04:49:52 03:13:54 09:13:47 -21:00 US$ 3500
7 Heather Wurtele CAN 00:56:15 04:51:35 03:21:55 09:15:11 -07:07 US$ 2500
8 Katy Blakemore USA 00:53:13 04:54:51 03:24:22 09:18:02 -10:58 US$ 2000
9 Rebecca Preston AUS 00:59:45 04:58:36 03:22:11 09:26:23 -03:30 US$ 1500
10 Sofie Goos BEL 00:59:37 04:55:50 03:26:44 09:27:58 00:11 US$ 1000
11 Heather Jackson USA 00:59:39 04:55:08 03:42:49 09:43:27 34:47
12 Tami Ritchie USA 00:54:17 05:19:29 03:25:53 09:46:56 -40:56
13 Jocelyn Mccauley USA 00:59:48 05:02:21 03:39:52 09:49:06 -00:04
14 Katharina Grohmann GER 01:15:59 05:12:42 03:20:42 09:54:40 -00:05
15 Jessica Meyers USA 00:59:03 05:02:49 03:48:13 09:55:46 09:02
16 Olesya Prystayko UKR 01:06:21 05:32:56 04:13:38 10:59:26 57:21
17 Caroline Martineau CAN 01:09:11 05:43:51 04:43:52 11:46:22 n/a
Bree Wee USA 00:56:16 04:58:34 DNF
Kaitlin Anelauskas USA 00:55:57 05:06:53 DNF
Natasha Van der Merwe USA 01:03:14 07:30:40 DNF
Corrie Kristick USA 00:55:22 DNF
Keiko Tanaka JPN 00:55:59 DNF
Tamara Kozulina UKR 01:03:27 DNF
Camilla Lindholm SWE 01:26:10 DNF

As the winner, Angela Naeth gets an automatic Kona slot, similar for Leanda Cave as the 2012 Kona champion. From a points perspective, Rachel Joyce (11.100) and Heather Wurtele (7.280) are clearly ahead of the projected cutoff. Corinne Abraham (4.725) and Kelly Williamson (4.540) still need a few more points, potentially from 70.3s. Heather Jackson (3.800) and Sarah Piampiano (3.395) have to consider racing another IM if they want to qualify.

Photo Credit: Kelly Burns Gallager, follow Kelly on Twitter 

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