After three second places and a fourth over the 5150 (Olympic) distance this year, Nikki won in her first attempt at the 70.3 (half-Ironman) distance since returning to triathlon. Nikki was a professional triathlete throughout her junior years before becoming a professional cyclist for four years, followed by a year away from sport altogether to have her first child Savana who is now nine months old.
After an uncharacteristically competitive swim, Butterfield was with the main contenders from the beginning of the bike leg.
Nikki said:
“I couldn’t believe when I looked around in T1 that Caroline and Sam were right there, I expected to be chasing for the majority of the bike! I wasn’t sure how I would ride against Sam, but I knew Caroline and I would ride similarly so I was already thinking about the run before I even started riding.”
Butterfield and Steffen rode on the same professional cycling team in 2007 (Raleigh-Lifeforce, now known as Garmin-Cervelo), of which was number one in the world at the time.
Caroline lead for the first thirty miles of bike leg, Nikki taking the lead for latter twenty-six miles.
Butterfield steadily built her lead throughout the final sections of the bike to begin the run with a minute lead over Steffen. Butterfield and Steffen rode almost ten minutes faster than any other woman in the race.
Nikki extended her lead on the run to win by almost three minutes over Steffen, and more than fourteen minutes over third place Samantha Warriner.
Both Steffen and Warriner are favorites for the World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii in three weeks time. Caroline is the defending World Long Course Champion and is a multiple winner of 70.3 and Ironman events. Samantha is a two time Olympian, Commonwealth Medalist, and a multiple 70.3 and Ironman winner.
Nikki will now commence a training block for the ITU World Long Course Championships on the fifth of November.
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