Thrilling Start at Ironman Western Australia: Appleton and Langridge Lead Swim
Sam Appleton and Fenella Langridge emerge as frontrunners in the 2023 Ironman Western Australia following a fiercely contested 3.8km swim.
The excitement is palpable at the 2023 Ironman Western Australia as top pro athletes dive into the heart of the competition at Geographe Bay. This year’s race has seen an electrifying start, with Sam Appleton and Fenella Langridge emerging as early leaders after the 3.8km swim.
Shawn Smith
Sam Appleton, showcasing his strength in the water, led the men’s professional field with an impressive time of 47:40. The competition was intensely close, with the top seven male athletes finishing the swim within a mere eight seconds of each other. Steve McKenna was right on Appleton’s heels, clocking the same time of 47:40. They were closely followed by Jack Sosinski and Daniel Bækkegård, who completed the swim in 47:41 and 47:42, respectively. This tight grouping sets the stage for a highly competitive bike segment and an unpredictable race outcome.
In the women's race, Fenella Langridge from Great Britain demonstrated her swimming strength by leading the pack with a time of 51:07. Dutch athlete Lotte Wilms was hot on her trail, finishing just two seconds behind. The early lead established by Langridge and Wilms created a significant gap from the rest of the field, with Chloe Lane finishing third in 54:15 and Lisa Norden close behind. This initial lead may provide Langridge and Wilms with a strategic advantage as they transition into the 180km bike course, a critical component of the triathlon.
