won her fourth Ironman title in Texas on Saturday, setting a course record and cementing her status as a serious contender in October’s Ironman World Championships.
The 35-year-old triathlete, who began triathlon racing only six years ago, relied on her running strength in the broiling Texas heat Saturday to set a course record at . Staying tight with four-time Ironman champion Amy Marsh through the 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bike, Ellis kicked hard in the 26.2-mile run to build a nearly five-minute gap on Marsh and finish with a record time of 8:54:58, three minutes faster than the record mark set by Great Britain’s Catriona Morrison last year.
American Caitlin Snow, one of the best female runners on the Ironman circuit, overcame a 25:34 deficit after the swim and bike to post an outrageous 2:51:47 marathon — a course record by more than 12 minutes — to eke a second-place finish as Marsh took third. Jason Blevins, The Denver Post
