Bozzone wins Ironman, celebrates with crowd

GALVESTON — Terenzo Bozzone stopped just before the finish line and raised his hands in the air. He smiled and soaked in the round of the applause and cheers while flexing his muscles.

Then, as if the fans’ gusto gave him another burst of energy after a grueling 70.3 miles of running, biking and swimming, Bozzone took another lap around the end of the race. He high-fived fans and gave hugs at a swift jog.

“This is what it’s all about — the fans, the energy, the accomplishment,” Bozzone said. “Oh, it feels really good.”

The New Zealand native took home the gold and $12,500 for winning the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas on Sunday. It was Galveston’s first time to hold the event.

About 6,000 people came out to Moody Gardens to watch 1,600 athletes complete a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile half marathon. Purse money totaled $75,000.

Bozzone completed his 70.3 miles in 3:49.06.

“I wanted to be here for the first Galveston race,” Bozzone said. “And the crowd was great, so I wanted to reward them.”

Bozzone actually started as a swimmer in the breaststroke. He loved competing and won a national title in New Zealand.

But an accident while wakeboarding in 2000 popped his eardrum, and the recovery time after surgery forced him out of the water. So Bozzone started to workout on land via bike and running.

He fell in love with it and has done pretty well as a pro. He owns 11 first-place finishes in the last three years, including the 2008 World Championship.

“Just the fans and competing in all those events, it’s really fun,” Bozzone said. “I love riding and running next to people.”

Bozzone still wears an earpiece while in water, though swimming is his strength. It helped him on Sunday with the wind making the water choppy.

The Galveston heat also helped Bozzone. The island offers a pretty similar climate, albeit less tropical, to New Zealand.

“I love running in the heat,” Bozzone said. “Galveston offered a great race, a prestigious one for its first year. I’ll have to come back and make the long flight again.”

Tim O’Donnell finished second for the men and was the first American to cross the finish line, earning him a $5,000 bonus.

The Women

When Amanda Stevens crossed the finish line in second place at the Memorial Hermann Texas Ironman 70.3, she reminded herself to look for someone.

Stevens got engaged last December and was competing in her first race since then. She quickly scoured the crowd for her fiance and gave him a big kiss.

“I have to admit, it was weird with my ring off,” Stevens said.

The Colorado Springs, Colo., resident took the ring off so she wouldn’t lose it in the ocean. She earned $7,500 for second place plus an extra $5,000 as the first American female.

“Maybe, I’ll use it on the wedding, which will be on the beach in Cozumel, Mexico,” Stevens said.

Stevens said she wanted to put the ring right back on after the race, though her hands swelled from the competition and the heat.

Canada’s Samantha McGlone just edged Stevens in the race by a minute. Stevens started out strong in the swimming, but McGlone caught her in the run.

The windy weather made the water choppy, which Stevens used to her advantage.

“(Stevens) is such a good swimmer that she could overcome that,” McGlone said. “I was just hoping to stay within striking distance.”

Only 90 seconds separated the top three women.

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Top Five Finishers

Men

1. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 3:49:06

2. Timothy O’Donnell (USA) 3:49:35

3. Chris Lieto (USA) 3:50:35

4. Andy Potts (USA) 3:52:01

5. Tyler Butterfield (USA) 3:53:25

Women

1. Samantha McGlone (CAN) 4:17:22

2. Amanda Stevens (USA) 4:18:26

3. Kelly Williamson (USA) 4:19:02

4. Desiree Ficker (USA) 4:21:30

5. Karin Thuerig (SUI) 4:22:20