IMC race coverage

Big props to Jordan... perseverance paying off.

From IMlive.com:

Rapp Wins Subaru Ironman Canada

The men’s race here at the Subaru Canada had the makings of spectacular race, and it didn’t disappoint. We had a great mix of athletes with statesman of the Ironman: Thomas Hellriegel and Lothar Leder, young up-starts like Jordan Rapp, Mark Van Akkeren and Andi Boecherer and veterans Jasper Blake, Luke Bell and Andriy Yastrebov.

It was Germany’s Andi Boecherer who made his presence known first as he took control of the race just before men hit the turn into McLean Creek Road (17 kilometres) on the bike with Luke Bell and Van Akkeren closely in tow.

As the men passed through Oliver at 40 kilometres, the top-ten were separated by a mere 3:45 with Boecherer and Bell to pulling away. When the men hit the top of Richter Pass, the field had stretched out further with Helrigel, Aigroz, Rapp, Lavelle, Van Akkeren, Cupitt, Scott and Guembel all remaining within striking distance of the leaders.

Rapp started making his move in the out and back at Keremeos, working his way to the lead just past Yellow Lake at 150 kilometres. Rapp came into the run transition carrying a 0:38 lead over Boecherer and 2:56 over Bell.

Rapp proceeded to hammer out consistent miles while the field fluctuated in positions behind him. At one time early in the run, Bell started to chew into Rapp’s lead, but could not sustain the pace and later faltered badly in the late stages of the marathon. Meanwhile, Mike Aigroz, 2006 Subaru Ironman Canada Champion Jasper Blake and Courtney Ogden started running through the field.

Rapp had the fastest run of the day at 2:55:33 and was never in any danger after he made the return trip of 21 kilometres from Okanagan Falls to Penticton. He ran down the final kilometres of Lakeshore Drive to finish line with a smile on his face knowing he was about to win his first Ironman race here in Penticton in a time of 8:25:18, followed by Agroz at 8:40:17 and Odgen at 8:44:37.

You could say the ex-varsity rower is a quick study. The 28 year-old American had only 3 Ironman races under his belt prior to his win. He was 5^th here in Penticton in 2007 and had 2 third place finishes at the spring and fall editions of the Ford Ironman Arizona in 2008.

Rapp has lived in Penticton with his fiancée, Canadian Olympian Jill Savage since May and credits his win to being knowledgeable of the local weather conditions and the course. “I bet I have ridden up Yellow Lake 40 times in training,” explained Rapp. He went on, “I have done a lot of long runs here in 36C weather … I knew what it was going to feel like.”