It may be early December, but Ironman 70.3 La Quinta still managed to draw an exceptionally strong field. And from that field of global stars, it was Sam Long who rose above the rest – delivering a statement victory that suggests the American is learning quickly from his newest source of inspiration: the U.S. Navy SEALs.
He needed that toughness. Long exited the water in 20th place, already 2:58 down, and with significant work to do. From there, it was all about a clear mind, laser focus, and full throttle on the bike. With the event’s notoriously unreliable live timing making it difficult for fans to track the race in real time, one thing still became abundantly clear: Long was on a different level. He surged from 20th all the way to the front, riding with unmatched power and intent.
But he couldn’t quite shake all of his competitors. Heading into T2, he found himself surrounded by heavy hitters Jackson Laundry, Lionel Sanders, and Federico Scarabino.
As expected, the race would be decided on Long’s favorite weapon: the run. Surrounded by world-class rivals, he needed nerves of steel – and he delivered. Long once again proved he is one of the fastest runners in the sport, clocking a blistering 1:10:38, the quickest split among the favorites and the performance that sealed the victory.
Long stopped the clock at 3:36:26 to take the win. Sanders claimed second in 3:39:16, and Laundry completed the podium in 3:39:39.