They’re back! We’re not even halfway through January and the Colorado pro triathletes are already in full racing mode. This past weekend we had three of our own grab podium spots in just their first races of 2016. If the year is already off to such a great start, I can only imagine the hardware our Colorado favorites will be taking home this year. Let’s do this!
Joyce, Carvallo Prevail in Pucon
Right out of the gates, Boulderites Rachel Joyce and Valentina Carvallo made their mark on the 2016 season with second and third place finishes at IRONMAN 70.3 Pucon. Both Joyce and Carvallo led the chase group out of the water in pursuit of leader, and super swimmer, Lauren Brandon.
Heading out on the bike, Brandon would not let up and put about four minutes into Carvallo and eventual winner, Barbara Riveros, and a whopping nine minutes into Joyce. However, anyone who knows Joyce is well aware that picking off competitors on the run is one of her many talents.
Wasting no time at all, Joyce turned on the jets, turning in the fastest run split of the day in the women’s race, 1:28:02, and found herself up with the leaders.
“Pucon was a really hard race with amazing crowd support,” Joyce said. “I would say I spent the swim and bike wishing I had not enjoyed Christmas so much and done more skiing than biking. Thankfully, I felt strong on the run.”
Riveros also had a great run, 1:29:55, and was able to catch and pass Brandon, keeping the lead all the way to the finish line. Carvallo also ran hard, 1:35:30, and chipped away at Brandon’s lead grabbing second place for a portion of the run. However, it was Joyce who would take second place on the day in 4:41:20, as her blazing run would help her catch and pass Carvallo in the end. Carvallo held strong and grabbed the final podium spot in 4:42:39.
Congrats to our awesome Colorado ladies!
Bowstead Port of Tauranga, New Zealand Half IRONMAN
Kiwi Mark Bowstead may call New Zealand home during our winter, but we know he’s in Colorado during our summers which is why we claim him as our own and follow him closely. It didn’t take Bowstead long in 2016 to start turning on the jets and finding himself atop the podium.
Over the weekend, Bowstead finished an impressive second place in the Port of Tauranga Half IRONMAN. Leading out of the water, Bowstead was able to get out on the bike and maintain his lead all the way through the grueling 56 miles.
Bowstead told Channel 3 News in New Zealand: “I got off the bike and thought, ‘Oh maybe I pushed a little too hard,’ but right after five kilometers the cramps sort of went, so I can’t complain. I just had to do my thing and Braden’s (Currie) got an amazing turn of speed.”
Bowstead continued to push hard on the run, but was caught by eventual winner, Braden Currie, who turned on the run speed in the end to take the top podium spot. Finishing in third was Kiwi legend, and 10-time Tauranga champ, Cameron Brown.
