Becker, Saeger win Spirit of Racine
Blake Becker ‘s 8th-best 21:47 swim, race-best 2:09:10 bike and 4th best 1:21:23 run added up to a 3:54:04 winning time and a 6 minute 54-second margin of victory over runner-up Jeff Paul at HFP Racing’s Spirit of Racine half-Ironman distance event in Wisconsin Sunday.
"Bike was great, except my seat fell 3" at mile 5 … spent 45 minutes riding like I was in the circus before I could get some assistance! … enjoyed the run on my way to first sub 4hr half," said Blake Becker to slowtwitch after the race. "Approach to training and racing is much different this year. 60% of usual volume and 5kg's heavier … with triathlon, stronger equals better."
In a see-saw battle at Racine, Adrienne Saeger gave up 2:05 to closest rival Michelle Lanouette on the swim, took back 4:41 on the bike and gave back 2:59 on the run while prevailing by 39 seconds – 4:22:56 to 4:23:35 – on Sunday.
Spirit of Racine Half
Racine, Wisconsin
July 19, 2009
S 1.2 mi./ B 56 mi./ R 13.1 mi.
Results
Overall men
1. Blake Becker (USA) 3:54:04
2. Jeff Paul (USA) 4:00:58
3. Mike Lavery (USA) 4:03:51
4. Adam Zucco (USA) 4:06:33
5. Jeremy Davis (USA) 4:07:09
6. Steve Chapin (USA) 4:07:55
7. Dana Riederer (USA) 4:10:28
8. Michael Stec (USA) 4:10:45
9. Darian Dykyj (USA) 4:14:10
10. Michael Gotzler (USA) 4:14:55
Overall women
1. Adrienne Saeger (USA) 4:22:56
2. Michelle Lanouette (USA) 4:23:35
3. Loren Schecter (USA) 4:23:57
4. D’Arcy Dawson (USA) 4:27:38
5. Sara Nelson (USA) 4:29:25
6. Sally Head (USA) 4:31:14
7. Catherine Lee (USA) 4:31:30
8. Julie Hull (USA) 4:31:41
9. Jennifer Takata (USA) 4:32:06
10. Lauren Jensen (USA) 4:32:13
