Paula Findlay Wins Ironman 70.3 North American Championship in St. George

Canadian triathlete Paula Findlay emerged victorious at the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship in St. George, Utah on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The 34-year-old completed the grueling course in an impressive time of 4:09:27, finishing more than two minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

Findlay's commanding performance on the bike proved to be the decisive moment in the race. She broke away from the field early and continued to extend her lead, setting the stage for her first win of the season and a dominant display of her skills.

Pre-Race Expectations and Conditions

Athlete Highlights: Findlay arrived at the race with impressive early-season form, having secured a fourth-place finish at the Miami T100 and a third-place finish at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside. Other notable competitors included defending champion Jeanni Metzler and Australian standout Ellie Salthouse.

The race unfolded amidst the breathtaking backdrop of St. George and Southwestern Utah, a region renowned for its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. Athletes had to navigate the demanding course while adapting to the unique environmental factors.

How the Race Was Won

Swim

Start and Strategy: The swim leg saw Kate Curran leading out of the water in 25:46, with Jeanni Metzler close behind. Findlay and Salthouse were just ten seconds behind the leading pair, setting the stage for an exciting race.

Leading Performers: The chase pack, which included notable athletes such as Jackie Hering, Gabrielle Lumkes, and Rach McBride, found themselves over 90 seconds behind as they transitioned onto the bike course, facing a significant challenge to close the gap.

Bike

The bike course in St. George is notorious for its demanding climbs and technical descents, which played a crucial role in determining the race outcome. Athletes had to strategically navigate the terrain to maintain their positions and gain an advantage.

Findlay seized the opportunity to make her move early on the bike, establishing a 30-second gap over Salthouse by the 19.4km mark. She continued to push the pace and extend her lead throughout the bike leg, eventually entering transition with an impressive four-minute advantage over her closest pursuers.

Run

Final Stretch: Despite the efforts of Salthouse and the chasing group to reduce Findlay's lead over the latter stages of the run, the Canadian had built a substantial gap that proved to be unassailable.

Findlay's strong 1:23:25 run split cemented her victory, as she crossed the finish line more than two minutes ahead of Salthouse, who secured second place.

Post-Race Reflections

In a post-race interview, Findlay reflected on her performance, stating, "It was good, it was a hard race. The swim was actually quite comfortable, and I really wanted to break away on the bike, so I used the hills to my advantage. What I like best is climbing, so my whole goal for this race was to be brave on the downhills."

Findlay's strategic approach to the challenging St. George course, particularly her aggressive riding on the climbs and confident descending, proved to be the key factor in her success.