Participants run to swim during the 2016 Ironman 70.3 Xiamen competition in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Nov. 13, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)
Josh Amberger from Australia held off a challenge from Tim Don of Britain on the run leg to claim the men's title at the IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen race on Sunday.
Amberger rallied brilliantly with a superb final-kilometer run in 3 minutes 39 seconds, setting up the win of the event that consists of 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile half-marathon run in 3 hours 56 minutes and 50 seconds.
The Australian was often the chased and midway through the run it seemed over. But he dug deep and eventually crossed the line 1:29 ahead of Don, who was ranked 7th in 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Championship and won two titles in 70.3 series this season.
"The run was quite tough, to be honest... Every time you eyeball your competitors, and to have someone like Tim Don running that much time out of me every lap was very intimidating, and to be honest, there were a lot of times where I was supposed to be giving up on the run, but I had Craig Alexander on the course cheering me on and giving me the couragement, I kept myself in the game, and I was thrilled to hang on for the win," Amberger said after the competition.
Justin Metzler of the United States came third in 4:02:46.
In the pro women's group, Jeanni Seymour from South Africa prevailed in 4:24:02 to cap an excellent year with two wins and three other podiums over the distance.
The United States had a 2-3 finish with Sarah Piampiano in 4:32:32 and Lisa Roberts in 4:36:11.
Emma Pallant from Germany, the women's runner-up in the IRONMAN 70.3 Hefei race last month, dropped out during the run leg.
The IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen event, the second race of IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon series in China since the brand was sold to Dalian Wanda Group last year, has attracted 2,179 athletes, 1,859 men and 320 women, from 57 countries and regions around the globe. 236 local citizens also registered to challenge the endurance event. Ironman's debut in China was in Heifei city on Oct. 16.
The iconic Ironman, initiated in 1978 as a single race, has become a global sensation with more than 260 events across 42 countries and regions. It operates worldwide events that include the Triathlon Series, 70.3 Triathlon Series, 5150 Triathlon Series, Iron Girl, Iron Kids, road cycling events, mountain bike races, and other multisport races.
