IMTX: Four Participants Earn Kona Slots At Ironman 70.3 California

            Four prospective Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas athletes will be coming to the Lone Star state next month without the pressure of trying to make it to Kona here.

            Why?

            They took care of that task Saturday by winning their age group at the Rohto 70.3 California in Oceanside.

            And a husband-and-wife team, that was – and still is – looking to podium here, led the way as they both came from sixth place off the bike to earn a trip to the Ford Ironman World Championship in April.

            Encinitas, California’s Beth Walsh, 31, used a 1:26:48 half marathon to pass five competitors – including division runner-up Jessica Smith, 30, of Stanford, California, who was leading off the bike.

            But what made the day even more special for Walsh, who competed at Kona this past October, was that her husband, James, punched his ticket to the World Championship for the first time – in the same fashion.

            James’ final victim was also another Californian, Santa Barbara’s Craig Spreadbury – who like Smith – led off the bike.

            However, 1:18:37 half marathons tend to be game changers and it was on Saturday.

            Their divisions also contained other Ironman Texas competitors that fared well.

            Keller, Texas’ Dana Bullard, 34, worked her way up from 36^th on the swim to finish in 12^th overall with a time of 5:06:24.

            On the men’s side of the division, Frisco, Texas’ Ron Tribendis, 33, slipped two spots after the swim, but still recorded a time of 4:30:36 to capture 8^th place on Saturday. 

            San Francisco’s Brett Miller, 34, was 13^th in 4:38:35.

           

            The 35-39 women’s division also belonged to an Ironman Texas participant, San Diego’s Kebby Holden.

            The 39-year-old had built up a three minute and 16-second lead over Tucson’s Peggy Burns and almost eight and a half over Portland, Oregon’s Alisa Scudamore as the trio started the run.

            Scudamore put down an age group best 1:33:16 on the run to pass Burns, but couldn’t close the gap on Holden.

            San Francisco’s Nicky Barber, 39, finished sixth in 5:14:45.

            Also scoring a division win on Saturday -- in the Personally Challenged division -- was 28-year-old Michael Johnston of San Diego, California.

            After losing a leg in a motorcycle accident upon returning from a Navy deployment, Johnston went through a year of physical therapy and successfully petitioned to stay on active duty.

            With the support of Challenged Athletes Foundation Operation Rebound, Johnston took the division in 5:28:11 as he continues preparation for Ironman Texas to be his debut Ironman.
            Johnston's post-race picture at the massage table can be viewed here.

            Santa Barbara, California’s Gary Maxwell, 62, worked his way up from 14^th place coming out of the water to finish fourth in the men’s 60-64 age group in 5:29:26.

            Competing in a tough 45-49 age group, Happy Valley, Oregon physician David Ciaverella, 46, was sixth in 4:34:37.

            Aspen, Colorado’s Michael Montgomery, 42, finished sixth in the 40-44 division in 4:31:24, while Houston’s Patricia Totten, 61, was also sixth in the 60-64 age group to round out top ten finishes by Ironman Texas participants.

            Other Ironman Texas registrants who had top 20 age group finishes at Saturday’s Ironman 70.3 California included:

            M30-34

            4:44:53 – Richard Wilson, 34, Arlington, Texas, 17th

            M35-39

            4:34:52 – Aleck Alleckson, 38, Clackamas, Oregon, 16th

            4:35:57 – Kevin Danahy, 36, Rehoboth, Delaware, 17th

            W35-39

            5:35:17 – Hope Zak, 38, Beaverton, Oregon, 19th

            5:36:04 – Natalie Trevithick, 38, Newport Beach, California, 20th

            W45-49

            5:39:20 – Kate McLean, 47, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 18th