June 27, 2010 (Coeur d'Alene, ID) – Pro triathlete Andy Potts of Colorado Springs claimed his first Ironman title in Coeur d’Alene this weekend.  With the win, the former short course specialist definitively proved his ability in long course racing—not that it was ever in doubt after posting top ten finishes at the Ironman World Championship over the previous two years.

Potts dominated the race—starting with his 46:28 swim, continuing with his 4:42:04 bike, and finishing with his 2:52:48 marathon run.   His total time of 8:24:40 was just over a minute shy of the course record set by Victor Zyemtsev in 2005. 

Courtney Ogden finished second with a time of 8:38:17 while Boulder’s Michael Lovato—the 2003 Ironman Coeur d’Alene champion—took third in 8:41:17.  Boulder pros Chris McDonald and Billy Edwards finished fifth and twelfth, respectively.

Colorado women were led by Kelly Lear-Kaul’s second place finish in the women’s 35-39 age group with a time of 10:20:37.  Sonja Wieck finished fourth in the women’s 30-34 age group in 10:37:02, and Christine Steigerwald finished fifth in the women’s 40-44 age group in 11:07:32.

Lindsey Corbin (Missoula, Mont.) won the women’s pro race in a course record time of 9:17:54.  Meredith Kessler (San Francisco, Calif.) finished second in 9:23:52, and Kelly Williamson (Austin, Tex.) rounded out the podium in third with her time of 9:39:23.

Andy Potts at last year's Ironman World Championship in Kona

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