More than 2000 of the world’s greatest athletes descended on
Sonoma County on Sunday for the 19th running of the Vineman Ironman
70.3 triathlon.
The Vineman started at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville with a
1.2-mile swim, continued with a 56-mile bike ride through several
grape-growing regions, and finished at Windsor High School with a
13.1-mile run.
The race is one of several qualifiers for the Ford Ironman World
Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida to be contested later in
the year.
The 2009 edition of the race included more than 1000 volunteers
and one of the most prestigious lineups of professional triathletes
ever assembled, vying for $25,000 in prize money.
This year’s event was marred by a freak accident when an oak
tree fell across Westside Road just after 8 a.m., injuring three
cyclists just seven miles into the bike segment of the race.
The tree crushed the rear tire of Howard Holderness, 43, of San
Francisco, causing a severe back injury and a broken arm. Fellow
cyclists Jim Briner and Greg Griffin also reportedly sustained
injuries in the crash.
Racers were delayed up to 15 minutes as members of the
Forestville Fire Department moved in to assist the injured athletes
and remove the tree from the road. The injured cyclists were
transported by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
Back on the course, 27-year-old Australian Joe Gambles emerged
from the 56-mile bike ride with a nearly five minute lead over a
star-studded pro field which included Simon Thompson, Brian
Lavelle, Leon Griffin, Reinaldo Colucci, Luke McKenzie and world
champion Craig Alexander.
Gambles, who recently took third place at Boise 70.3, maintained
a lead throughout the 13.1-mile run to come home in a record time
of 3:49.18.
“It was one of those days that don’t come along very often,”
said Gambles, bagging the top purse of $6000 for the win. “I knew
that I had some guys behind me that can run like the wind, but I
felt like I still had a lot left at the end.”
Finishing just a few minutes later were fellow Aussies Simon
Thompson in 3:53.38 and Leon Griffin in 3:57:01. Rounding out the
top five men were Northern California pro John Dahlz (3:59:45) and
former Vineman 70.3 champion Brian Lavelle (4:00:25).
The professional women’s race was nearly identical to the men’s,
as 29-year–old Australian Pip Taylor emerged from the bike segment
with a four minute lead over 2008 Vineman 70.3 champ Joanna Zeiger.
The chase pack also consisted of Dede Griesbauer, Kelly Couch, and
last year’s runner-up, Tyler Stewart.
Maintaining a slim advantage throughout the half marathon,
Taylor overcame cramps in the final stages of the run to win in a
near-record time of 4:20:04.
“I had a poor swim but I think the hills really suited me on the
bike,” she said. “I felt really good until the last four miles of
the run when I cramped up for the first time ever. I’ve never raced
here before and it was a tougher course than I expected.”
Stewart, from Novato, finished just 90 seconds behind Taylor to
grab the second place purse of $3000, followed closely by
Griesbauer (4:23:29), Linsey Corbin (4:24:37), and Couch
(4:25:23).
Former Vineman Race Director Dave LaTourette, on hand to
announce and greet finishers, noted the impressive list of
competing athletes.
“Though I think the men’s field was very strong and maybe more
diverse than ever considering the foreign flavor, there have been
other years that were equally as strong if not stronger,” he said.
“But the women’s field was likely the deepest and strongest it’s
ever been.”
Local finishers make their mark
The Vineman featured many of the area’s best amateur
triathletes, including 36-year-old Leslie Shaw of Forestville, who
captured 36th place among women and 20th in her age group in an
outstanding time of 5:01:01. Other locals were: Sarah Hallas of
Guerneville (30, 65th overall, 18th in age group, 5:22:28), Thomas
MacKinney of Sebastopol (44, 489th overall, 78th in age group,
5:33:44), and Don Jones of Sebastopol (1208th overall, 164th in age
group, 8:02:44).
Next up in the Vineman series is the 20th annual Full Vineman,
along with the ninth annual Barb’s Race, set for Saturday, Aug.
1.
