Photos By Kristen McFarland
Mirinda Carfrae of Boulder won her third Ironman World Championship in a time of 9 hours 55 seconds. En route to victory, Carfrae–a perennially strong runner–erased a 14:30 deficit off the bike with a 2:50:27 marathon.
Carfrae’s run performance once again lowered the women’s marathon record in Kona. On her debut in 2009, Carfrae set a new course record for the marathon of 2:56:51, beating Chrissie Wellington’s record of 2:57:44 set the previous year.
Carfrae again set new course records for the marathon in 2010 (2:53:32), 2011 (2:52:09), and 2013 (2:50:38) before lowering the mark yet again this year by posting negative splits.
Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf took second in 9:02:57. Boulder residents Rachel Joyce and Jodie Swallow placed third (9:04:23) and fourth (9:10:19), respectively.
Colorado’s Mary Beth Ellis rounded out the women’s top ten with her ninth place performance of 9:20:46.
In the men’s race, Boulder’s Ben Hoffman took second (8:19:23) behind Germany’s Sebastian Kienle. Kienle–a two-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion–earned his first Ironman title in 8:14:18.
Kienle’s fellow countrman, Jan Frodeno, took third in 8:20:32 while Colorado’s Andy Potts placed fourth in 8:21:38.
