Bahrain Endurance 13 Vision Team compete in California Triathlon Race

Manama, Mar. 30. (BNA) -- Under the directives of His Majesty the King's Charity and Youth Affairs Representative, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee President and Bahrain Triathlon Team Captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, two members of the Bahrain Endurance 13 Vision Team participated in the Ironman Championship in California, which came as the opening event of the triathlon season in North America. On this occasion, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa pointed out that the presence of the Bahrain team members in the North American event comes within the framework of plans and programmes to develop the Bahraini Triathlon team, and to contribute to the spread of the culture of triathlon. He added that the team should continue working to achieve more this season. A member of the Bahrain Endurance 13 Vision Team, John Frodeno from Germany took the top spot and defended his title at the Ironman 70.3 in Oceanside, which saw more than 3,000 athletes take part in a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run. This was the first race of the season for Frodeno, who suffered a serious bike crash that resulted in a fractured vertebra seven weeks ago. This is also his first outing as a member of the Bahrain Endurance 13 Vision Team, established by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who himself is quickly gaining profile as The Prince of Health in the Gulf region. Canadian athlete Brent McMahon, also sporting Bahrain Endurance 13 colours, took fourth place. A two-time Olympian, McMahon debuted in the Ironman distance last year with a sub-eight hour performance that set a new course record at Ironman Arizona. It was the fastest Ironman debut by an athlete in the history of the sport. Frodeno came out of the water second to star swimmer and four-times race winner, American Andy Potts. On the bike leg, Frodeno stayed with a group of six that also included McMahon and Potts, as Canadian Lionel Sanders powered to the front with a race-best 2:04:46 bike split. Sanders had a 51-second lead as he entered the run, which Frodeno easily overcame with the race’s fastest run (1:10:48). Frodeno ran away with the win to launch his season in dominating style. It was a battle for the rest of the podium spots, as Potts was only able to overtake Sanders in the final mile to the finish to get second. Sanders held on for third with McMahon finishing closely in fourth, culminating in a great day for The Kingdom of Bahrain.