Reigning Ironman triathlon world champion Craig Alexander, 35, an Australian living in Boulder, Colo. won Saturday's 70.3-mile Boise triathlon with a strong running finish that gave him a two-second victory and the $5,000 first-place prize.
World-class triathlete Alexander, known as "Crowie," came from way back to overtake last year's Boise 70.3 men's runner-up Chris Lieto, 37, of Danville, Ca. by just two ticks at the downtown Boise finish line. Lieto won $3,000.
Alexander's final time was 3.51:46 and Lieto's 3.51:48. Alexander's half-marathon running time was 1.13:44, five minutes and 29 seconds faster than Lieto's. They were third and fourth out of the water, respectively, and Lieto's top bike time of 2.04:28 established his lead.
That was the same 1-2 finish of the May 31 Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, when Alexander's foot speed made up a big deficit and bettered second-place Lieto by three minutes. The outcome made it four-for-four for Alexander in this year's 70.3 races.
Light rain cooled off the 1,246 triathlete starters and temperatures stayed in the high 60s and low 70s.
Nine Wood River Valley triathletes were in the field of 1,193 finishers during the second annual Boise 70.3 Triathlon presented by Ford. Distances were 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run.
Among the finishers was 60-year-old Hailey resident Dave McBryant, who had a very strong swimming segment en route to the 114th triathlon finish of his career. His swim was 40:17 and his finish was 6.22:05, for eighth place in Men's 60-64.
First out of the water was Boise-based pro Kevin Everett, 34, in 25:28, 11 seconds ahead of Alexander. The leading female triathlete, in 18th place overall, was Canada's Magali Tisseyre, 28, in 4.12:29.
Ironman 70.3 Boise featured a unique 2 p.m. start. The course used a variety of Boise's scenic areas including Lucky Peak Reservoir, Sandy Point Beach and the Boise Greenbelt. It served as one of more than 26 worldwide qualifying events for next year's Ironman World Championship 70.3.
There was a professional prize purse of $25,000 and 50 qualifying slots for pro and age group athletes to the Ironman World Championship 70.3 Nov. 14 in Clearwater, Fla.
