Steffen extends podium streak

Bahrain Endurance Team members performed well in Asia Pacific, South America and the Middle East events last weekend with Caroline Steffen extending her podium streak at the half-ironman distance with a win off the front at the Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay, Philippines.

The day was a challenge for Steffen as she and Radka Vodickova raced neck-and-neck through the swim and bike stages and it was only on the run that the Swiss asserted her dominance and won with a five-minute margin.

Steffan a Sunshine Coast-based star will next head to the US for more racing before coming back to the region to defend her title at Ironman 70.3 Vietnam. She said, “My main goal this year is the [Ironman 70.3] World Championships in my back yard, and I thought I better get over to the US and race those girls who are going show up in Australia in September.”

Also racing in the Asia Pacific region, Terenzo Bozzone was placed sixth at Ironman New Zealand behind fellow Kiwi Cameron Brown who has now won a record 12 Ironman New Zealand titles.

In South America, Sam Appleton and Ben Hoffman locked up the top two podium spots at Ironman 70.3 Buenos Aires in Agentina, with Appleton first out of the water leading a pack that also included Hoffman. On the bike, Hoffman took the lead with Appleton never far behind and the race was decided on the run, which came down to a sprint finish where the young Australian came out ahead of the American by a mere six seconds.

While in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain’s Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa took on the maxi race (1.5-kilometer swim, 80-kilometer bike ride, 20-kilometer run) and finished second in his age category and ninth overall. “The ambition to achieve great results is growing,” he said.