Ironman Canada
Pentiction, Canada
Sunday, Aug 24, 2003
2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
Complete Results

PENTICTON, B.C.-Canada's Lisa Bentley (Caledon, On.) and South Africa's Raynard Tissink claimed the women's and men's title respectively at the 2003 Subaru Ironman Canada triathlon, taking  place on Sunday in Penticton and the surrounding Okanagan Valley. Early in the week there was question whether or not the event would take place, as forest fires threatened the nearby communities of Kelowna and Okanagan Falls, on opposite ends of Penticton. But despite smoky conditions on race day, and last-minute course changes, the full event took place.

Bentley, who claimed her fifth career Ironman title with the victory, used a superb run of two hours, 59 minutes and 56 seconds to win her first Subaru Ironman Canada title. The 34-year-old finished second to fellow Canadian Lori Bowden one year ago. Bentley's overall time of 9:21:18 was more than 25 minutes faster than second-place finisher Gillian Bakker's overall time of 9:47:09. Bakker, the 2001 Subaru Ironman Canada champion, overtook Andrea Fisher (Austin, Texas) late in the run to finish second.

Fisher led throughout the day, posting the fastest swim among the women and led off the bike, but faded on the run to finish third in 9:51:20. Deanna Frank (Birmingham, Ala.) was fourth in 9:53:17, while Penticton's own Barb Scatchard finished fifth in 9:56:56.

The men's race really hit home for much of the Okanagan Valley that was suffering with major fires, as Naramata's Tom Evans led throughout most of the event. Evans' home in the nearby community was on evacuation alert due to the Kelowna wildfire that has claimed more than 250 homes. Despite that, Evans raced and held the lead throughout the day, until passed late on the run by Tissink, the 2002 Ironman Korea champion. Tissink's overall time of 8:35:11, was less than two minutes faster than second-place finisher Evans (8:37:01), while Gordo Byrn (Boulder, Colo.) used the fastest marathon registered on the day (2:49) to finish third in 8:46:57.

Faris Al-Sultan of Germany finished fourth in 8:48:45 with defending champion Garrett MacFadyen (Penticton, B.C.) fifth in 8:51:40. More than 1,950 athletes from 40 different countries competed in the event, which took place for the 21st time in Penticton.