Aussie double in St.Croix

Sunday, 04 May 2008 20:00

Mirinda Carfrae destroyed the field in the great St.Croix 70.3 race yesterday. Quite simply, Mirinda was devastating on the run, making the rest of the women's pro field look second rate. Carfrae ran 10 minutes quicker than the second place getter Nina Kraft from Germany to record another victory on the island. An ominous warning for the rest fo the 70.3 fields she races against as the World Champion proves she is in world class form. In the men's event Craig Alexander, a former 70.3 World Champion cleaned up a stellar field and took out the win. Alexander gapped the field by three minutes to cruise down the finish chute well ahead of some pretty big names.

The men's result was pretty straight foward when you think about it. Craig Alexander swims well, bikes strongly and runs like the wind. So putting that into place should be no problem. Well that's the plan anyway. The day was headed by swim specialist Bryan Rhodes. Rhodes lead them through the swim and then the big hitters came out to play. Ritchie Cunningham had the legs to lead the group over the Beast. The Beast is a climb that features throughout the course and has been the undoing of many an athlete throughout the race. This Beast climbs 14% in a little over one kilometre. With that business done the men got down to the business of running. But for Crowie that is a art he has down pat and with the fastest run split of the day the race was his.

The women's race was being dominated by Felicity Hart. She reeled in the leaders including Nina Kraft and took a two minute break onto the run. It should have been a tough run. It should have been a race in three. But Carfrae destroyed the field with ease. Her run split was ten minutes faster than any other woman on the day. A tough act to follow. Carfrae has clearly the engine required to be a dominant force in the 70.3 caper. A fact made clear on the roads of St.Croix.

Women's Results