In a race largely headlined by American, Canadian and Australian athletes, Sam Appleton and Paula Findlay delivered emphatic victories at Ironman 70.3 Boise, showcasing commanding performances from start to finish. For Findlay, the day unfolded as a true one-woman show, while Appleton sealed his win with a decisive surge on the run.
Paula Findlay Cruises to Victory with Signature Power
Despite a modest swim that saw her concede around 40 seconds to Britain’s Jodie Stimpson – the fastest swimmer of the day with a 28:35 split – Canada’s Paula Findlay wasted no time taking control once on the bike. By the midway point of the 90-kilometer course, she had already flipped the deficit into nearly a two-minute lead.
Back in T2, Findlay held a 2:23 advantage over Jocelyn McCauley, with the rest of the field trailing by five minutes or more. Yet the Canadian star wasn’t content to cruise. She pressed on during the half marathon, extending her lead and crossing the finish line in a commanding 4:01:50.
The American Danielle Lewis claimed second in 4:06:49, while Jodie Stimpson rounded out the podium in 4:10:32.
Appleton Pulls Away Late for Men’s Title
In the men’s race, the action remained tight through the swim, with a lead pack of 13 exiting the water within a minute of each other. But the dynamic shifted on the bike, where a front trio emerged: Sam Appleton, Justin Riele, and a surging Jackson Laundry, who impressively made up a two-minute swim deficit.
The trio reached T2 together, but once on the run, it was Appleton who steadily broke away. Riele quickly faded from contention, while Laundry hung with Appleton through the early kilometers before beginning to lose ground. By the 8K mark, Appleton had opened up a lead of over a minute – and from there, the gap only grew.
Appleton clinched victory in 3:40:32, with Laundry taking second in 3:43:42 and Riele third in 3:44:59.
