3-time world champ Alexander rules Century Tuna Ironman 70.3

Craig Alexander talks to Wilfred Uytengsu at the finish line of the Century Ironman 70.3 Sunday.

SUBIC – It was a victory one year in the making.

Forced to miss last year’s offing due to a bad back, Craig Alexander made the most of his second chance and won the 2016 Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 triathlon race Sunday at Subic Bay Convention Center here.

At 42, Alexander showed that age is not an issue as the three-time world champion finished the race in three hours, 48 minutes, and 56 seconds and bested pacesetter Patrick Lange and defending champ Tim Reed.

Lange came in almost two minutes behind as he went for three hours, 50 minutes, and 45 seconds, while Alexander’s Australian compatriot Reed went three hours, 52 minutes, and 28 seconds.

Lange established the big lead in the bike course, pulling away from the pack with a 90-second lead after pacing the swim course.

Alexander, more known to his peers as “Crowie,” gained ground from his German runner-up in the run course, overtaking him five kilometers away from the finish line.

In the women’s pro, Caroline Steffen ran away with the victory, completing the course in just four hours, nine minutes, and 40 seconds.

She was followed by Rodka Vodickova (4:14:51) and Dimity Lee-Duke (4:23:52).

Steffen and Vodickova went neck-and-neck in the swim course before the Swiss champ overpowered her opponents in the bike course and cruised to the finish.

The athletes went on a three-part race: a 1.9-kilometer swim course in Acea Beach; followed by a 90-kilometer bike course which saw the athletes traverse SCTEX to get to the Floridablanca interchange and back to the Subic Bay Convention Center (SBECC); and a 21-kilometer run course which took them back through the Subic Bay Airport, Acea Beach, and the finish line at SBECC.

August Benedicto topped the Filipino elite in the course, finishing the race in four hours, 20 minutes, and 15 seconds, good for seventh overall among male pros.

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