While many around the world aren’t familiar with her, for Canadians it came as no surprise that Tamara Jewett, a former national team runner, would run her way to the win at Ironman 70.3 Timberman. (Today’s race only had women pros – the men compete at Ironman 70.3 Maine next week.) Her impressive 1:14:20 run split put her well ahead of runner-up Mirinda Carfae (AUS), competing for the first time after the birth of her second child, Finn, on Jan. 4, and third-place finisher Heather Jackson (USA).
American Ali Brauer led the women out of the water, 16 seconds ahead of countrywoman Gabrielle Bunten and 1:45 up on Jewett. Carfrae exited the water in seventh place, 2:35 down, while Jackson hit T1 4:41 behind the leader. Out on the bike Brauer continued to lead the way through the first 33 km as American Lisa Becharas and Canadian Mel McQuaid moved into the picture ahead of Carfrae and Jewett. Heading into the last 20 km of the bike Jewett moved into second just ahead of Carfrae, but both were still chasing Brauer, who was almost two minutes up the road. The pair was able to half the time gap by the end of the bike, though, with Jackson another minute behind.
Jewett finished the bike a few seconds ahead of Carfrae, but the three-time Kona champ was quicker in transition and hit the run course ahead of the Canadian, but it didn’t take long before Jewett had put her stamp on the race. Within two km she was in the lead, 37 seconds ahead of Brauer and 58 seconds up on Carfrae, with Jackson 2:18 behind in fourth. By the five km point the race was done – Carfrae had moved into second, but was 2:19 behind. The gap continued to grow as the Canadian posted her screaming fast run split, crossing the line in 4:13:39. Carfrae would run a 1:23:54 half-marathon to take second in 4:23:10, with Jackson rounding out the podium in 4:26:05.
