Ironman California 70.3 results: Paterson claims 6th
Ironman California 70.3 has been slightly overshadowed by Ironman Galveston 70.3 this week, but indeed it was on and indeed it was raced. The big news from a British point of view was our Scottish World Champion, Lesley Paterson, was 6th lady overall in at time of 4:31:50. The ladies race was won by fellow X-terra specialist, the American Mel McQuaid in a time of 4:19:13. Paterson was slightly off the pace for the swim and the bike although she did finish with her typically strong run to put her into 6th place.
In the men’s race, Paul Ambrose was our best placed entrant and finished in a strong position of 5th. The athlete, who has dual Australian and British nationality, was left behind in the swim (as was everyone else) to super swimmer Andy Potts (who was to take the win). A strong bike leg followed that matched the best of what everyone else was putting in on the race but this looks to have cost him on the run weere another couple of minutes were dropped.
Jonathan Hotchkiss was also down to race but he DNS. In a recent interview he gave after DNF at Ironman San Juan 70.3, Hitxhkiss spoke of needing to sort out some nutritional issues for the 4-hour races.
In the age-group race, the best British performance was by Paul Perry in the 40-44 category. Perry finished 5th in this category in a time of 4:31:30.
So overall, the real story was Paterson claiming 6th and some vital pro points in her quest to make the 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas.
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