Tom Evans, Lisa Bentley Win Ironman Canada in Exciting Fashion

Tom Evans, Lisa Bentley Win Ironman Canada in Exciting Fashion

Bentley defends her title, while Evans goes wire-to-wire to record first win for a local athlete in race history.

Tom Evans led from start to finish today, holding off a dramatic charge by Gordo Byrn over the closing miles of the marathon to win Subaru Ironman Canada today. While Evans had to hold on to his lead during the marathon, Lisa Bentley proved yet again that she is one of the best runners the sport has ever seen as she moved from third to first during the first half of the marathon, and never looked back as she defended her title here in Penticton.

A record field started the race here today ... 2,170 athletes were on the beach at Okanagan Lake to start the swim. That broke the record for a one-wave swim start set here two years ago, when 2,032 athletes started the race.

Evans' win generated lots of excitement here in Penticton - it is the first time in the 22-year history of the race that a local athlete has won. The win was even more satisfying for the 36-year-old dentist because he led for most of the race here a year ago, only to be passed during the closing miles of the marathon by Raynard Tissink.

This year it looked like Evans was going to be passed again, as Boulder, Colorado's Gordo Byrn charged towards the front.

Evans picked up the pace over the last few miles of the run, though, and held on for the win. Byrn was second, his 2:46 marathon the fastest of the day, but not enough to net him the win. Olaf Sabatschus was third.

Ironman Germany champion Stefan Holzner had a rough day, and dropped out of the race before the marathon.

The women's race went pretty much as expected. Joanna Zeiger had a phenomenal swim, breaking the women's swim course record while coming third overall in the swim. Zeiger was passed during the ride by the fast-cycling Gillian Bakker, who led the women onto the marathon course.

It didn't take long for Bentley to assert her control, though. Starting the marathon 10-minutes behind Bakker, the defending champion was in front by the turn-around in Okanagan Falls, and never looked back.

Zeiger was crying tears of joy as she came across the line in second, while Bakker celebrated her fastest time here in Penticton. For complete race coverage and photos, click on the Ironman Canada banner at the top of the Ironmanlive home page.

Men:
1 Tom Evans                 8:28:06

2 Gordo Byrn                8:29:55

3 Olaf Sabatschus         8:33:32

4 Jasper Blake              8:46:55

5 Matt Seeley               8:53:24 

Women:

1 Lisa Bentley              9:16:02

2 Joanna Zeiger            9:28:57

3 Gillian Bakker            9:36:26

4 Sara Gross                9:54:27

5 Pamela Ens               9:58:56