Happy days for Richie Cunningham at Ironman 70.3 Texas

Richie Cunningham, Tim Berkel and Chris McDonald made it a 1,2,3 for Australia today at the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas. In addition Mitch Robins was 6th overall as he hits the USA for take two after a horror accident derailed his campaign this time last year when he was in the form of his life.

Even though Allen Gardener lead the field out of the water it really was Richie Cunningham’s race and he was a class above the rest of the field. Cunningham put almost two minutes in to Berkel and McDonald in the swim, lost half a minute on the bike then ran away with the race while posting a 1:12:45 for the half marathon.

Cunningham spends all of his time in the USA and is the current Rev3 series champion. He was 3rd at the South American 70.3 champs recently in Panama which was a repeat of his result last year at that race. He has a very impressive resume and seems to have found another gear. Check out Cunningham’s results and schedule for 2013.

In second place a very happy Tim Berkel has put behind him a start to the year he would rather forget. After DNF’s at Auckland 70.3, Ironman Melbourne and a 6th at Geelong Berkel is back doing what he does best. “I was just happy to be back on the podium. I am feeling good and will be racing New Orleans 70.3 in two weeks.”

Chris McDonald swam and rode with Berkel but couldn’t hang on in the run with Berkel putting 1:23 in to him on over the 21.2kms. McDonald