Story courtesy of Iron Girl

Mirinda Carfrae and Jeanne Fleck claimed the first place International and Sprint distance titles at the inaugural Aflac Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas Triathlon in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“I didn’t come here thinking or worrying about winning. I came here to push myself from start to finish,” said Mirinda Carfrae, winner of the 2008 Aflac Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas Triathlon – International Distance. “It’s great to go out without any pressure and really race for yourself. Congratulations to everyone who participated, as there are a lot of easier races they could have done. It was a hard course, but a lot of fun!”

The sold-out event took place at Loews Hotel and Lake Las Vegas Resort, with nearly 700 women participating. The event brought together a diverse group of women ranging in age and fitness level, from professional to beginner.

Carfrae lead a field of professional athletes including the 2006 Ironman 70.3 World Champion, Samantha McGlone, short-course specialist, Becky Lavelle and Ironman World Champion, Karen Smyers, who were competing for a $15,000 prize purse. The final results are below:

1. Mirinda Carfrae, 27, Boulder, CO
o Total Time – 1:56:22
2. Pip Taylor, 28, Lennox Head, NSW
o Total Time - 1:57:09
3. Becky Lavelle, 34, Los Gatos, CA
o Total Time - 1:58:58
4. Samantha McGlone, 28, Colorado Springs, CO
o Total Time – 1:59:57
5. Laurel Wassner, 33, Hoboken, NJ
o Total Time – 2:04:31
6. Karen Smyers, 47, Lincoln, MA
o Total Time - 2:08:42
7. Malaika Homo, 30, Salt Lake City, UT
o Total Time - 2:08:44

Top five overall age-group results for both distances are below:

International Distance:
1. Becky Lamph, 40, Las Vegas, NV
o Total Time – 2:19:32
2. Judyann Cummings, 49, Denver, CO
o Total Time – 2:19:33
3. Karen Walls, 38, Tucson, AZ
o Total Time – 2:19:46
4. Jodi Ruby, 46, Laverne, CA
o Total Time – 2:23:09
5. Daniela Williams, 32, North Liberty, IA
o Total Time – 2:23:14

Sprint Distance:
1. Jeanne Fleck, 43, Proctor, MN
o Total Time – 1:03:36
2. Kim Jefferson, 45, Henderson, NV
o Total Time – 1:04:57
3. Kelley Bennet, 33, Henderson, NV
o Total Time – 1:06:44
4. Heidi Trueblood, 38, Edwards, CO
o Total Time – 1:06:47
5. Julie Conner, 36, Las Vegas, NV
o Total Time – 1:07:32

For more information on Iron Girl or results from the 2008 event, visit www.IronGirl.com.

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The Aflac Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas triathlon, held on April 12, 2008 is approaching 900 athletes. Registration will close on March 29th. Click HERE for registration information.

The race will be broadcast nationally on NBC. This is a first of its kind broadcast of an all women’s triathlon. NBC will broadcast the event on July 26th.

Athletes presently scheduled to race in the elite field include Mirinda Cafrae (current World Ironman 70.3 Champion), Samantha McGlone (2006 World Ironman 70.3 Champion, 2nd Ironman Hawaii 2007), Karen Smyers (former World Ironman Champion and US National Champion).

Popularity: 80% [?]