Whyte secures career first podium in Canada

New Zealand triathlete Jamie Whyte (Southland) finished on the podium in an international 70.3 Ironman event in Canada this morning New Zealand time.

 

Whyte secured his breakthrough performance as he nears the end of the North American season in his second to last event of the New Zealand winter before returning home.

 

“The race went really well for me today and had my most satisfying result to date with a 3rd place and my first ever podium finish in an Ironman 70.3 race,” said Whyte.

 

“I exited the swim with a large bunch but we were some time down on the two leaders and there was another group between our bunch and the leaders.

 

“I had a good ride moving into 4th by transition 2 and was then able to run down Australian Steven Hackett about half way through the run to move into 3rd and hang on through to the finish. I am very happy with this result today.”

 

27 year old Whyte is coached by Mark Watson and is described as a hard worker and ‘one of the nice guys’ in the sport.

 

“This is a great result for Jamie and reward for plenty of hard work,” said Watson from Auckland. “Our aim was simply to get overseas this year and get plenty of racing in – the bigger the races the better.

 

“Jamie is well known locally after finishing 5th at the Port of Tauranga half and winning the Rotorua half last year but this is his best overseas result for sure.”

 

Calgary Ironman 70.3

Elite Pro Male

1 Tim O’Donnell USA 3:55:28

2 Ben Hoffman USA 4:02:51

3 Jamie Whyte NZL 4:03:58

4 Kirk Nelson USA 4:04:14

5 James Hadley GBR 4:06:49