Tyson finishes 7th in age group in first ever Coeur d'Alene half Ironman

COEUR d’ALENE — Sandpoint triathlete Steven Tyson finished 64th among more than 2,400 competitors on Sunday in the first ever Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene, clocking a 4:41 to finish seventh in his age group of 35-39 in the new half Ironman.

But it wasn’t the finish that mattered most for Tyson, a trainer and triathlon coach who has finished as high as 26th in the Ironman Coeur d’Alene before. Just being able to compete again after sitting out the past two years with injuries was all he really cared about.

“It wasn’t my best race, but it felt good to do it again,” said Tyson, lauding the shorter version of the traditional Ironman race. “It’s neat that they had the half, it’s more doable.”

Tyson clocked a 33:57 in the 1.2 mile swim on Lake Coeur d’Alene, then a 2:29.49 on the 56 mile bike leg, followed by a 1:31.39 on the 13.1 mile run, hitting a respectable 7 minute mile clip as he regains racing form.

His eye is now on the real McCoy, the Ironman Coeur d’Alene in August, the traditional 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. His goal is to be in good enough shape to eclipse nine hours, which could improve upon his best-ever 26th place finish in a race full of pros. He’s pretty confident he’ll hit his goal.

“Oh yeah, I’ll definitely do that,” predicted Tyson, noting the 70.3 race drew tougher competition. “The half is a different beast. There’s so many fast guys.”

Andy Potts and Heather Jackson won the men’s and women’s races, respectively. Potts, a 2004 Olympic triathlete who finished fourth in the 400-meter individual medley in the 1996 Summer Olympics, won with an overall time 3:54.45.

Potts and Jackson each received $6,000 for winning on Sunday. The second-place pro male and female each earned $3,000, third place $2,250, fourth place $1,500, fifth place $1,250 and sixth place $1,000.

TOP 10 FINISHERS

n Men

1. Andy Potts, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3:54.45. 2. Josh Amberger, Everton Hills, Australia, 3:56.49. 3. Mark Bowstead, Waiuku, New Zealand, 3:57.16. 4. Ben Hoffman, Boulder, Colo., 4:01.24. 5. Luke Bell, Sandringham, Australia, 4:03.02. 6. Kennett Peterson, Boulder, Colo., 4:03.17. 7. Jonathan Shearon, Tucson, Ariz., 4:03.29. 8. Chris Baird, San Francisco, 4:05.47. 9. Derek Garcia, Coeur d’Alene, 4:09.55. 10. Robbie Wade, Westminster, Colo., 4:11.21.

n Women

1. Heather Jackson, Bend, Ore., 4:19:34 2. Ellie Salthouse, Carindale, Australia, 4:27.44. 3. Malindi Elmore, Kelowna, British Columbia, 4:29.42. 4. Sue Huse, Missoula, Mont., 4:34.47. 5. Skye Moench, Holladay, Utah, 4:35.20. 6. Jen Annett, Penticton, British Columbia, 4:36.26. 7. Amanda Wendorff, Naperville, Ill., 4:37.09. 8. Haley Chura, Bozeman, Mont., 4:38.17. 9. Kelly Williamson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 4:40.57. 10. Erin Spitler, Whitefish, Mont., 4:43.36.