Kahlefeldt and Vodickova seeking double at Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie

Dual Olympian Brad Kahlefeldt and partner Czech Radka Vodickova are looking to make the top spot on the podium at Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie a date.
The pair will be hoping for a repeat performance of IRONMAN 70.3 Putrajaya earlier this year when they both took out the win.

We have had already some races together, where we both took the win at Batemans Bay and IRONMAN 70.3 Putrajaya. When it happens it is really great feeling,” she said.

They won’t have it all their own way with a stellar field of athletes assembled all looking to break up the love fest.
Among the field will returning champions, Josh Amberger and Lisa Marangon.

I’m expecting to perform the way I did last year. It’s going to be hard to repeat that performance because it was a perfect race, but when you have a race like that you set the bar high and always come back wanting to beat it. In saying that though, I will be equally happy with a win even if I have to hurt a little more this year to do it.

Marangon is excited about getting down to business when the gun goes off racing as the defending champion for the first time.

I’ve never defended a title before, but am excited to try, she said. I love this time of year. The weather is magical which means I’m enjoying my training more.

Men’s Race

Port Macquarie will always hold a special place in the development of Amberger’s triathlon career. He did his first IRONMAN 70.3 here in 2011 and then recorded his first win on Australian soil here last year. He’s hoping on Sunday he can add another chapter to that history.

Port is a special place to race for me, the area is beautiful and I love the support the event gets from the local community,” he said.

My form is good. I’m coming off a 2nd in the Beijing International Triathlon and win at 5150 Philippines, so the results have been there. I’m settled back in Australia after a long five months of travel to and from the US, and I always experience a little bump in fitness and motivation when I’m back home and can focus all my energy on training.

Kahlefeldt is coming off a 4th place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast, after arriving there from Canada late in race week. He’s hoping the extra few weeks rest will allow him to unleash his devastating run leg.

“I’m feeling good. The training has been going well and I’ve recovered from the trip back from the US. I’m really looking forward to getting out there and racing,” he said.

We will see what happens on race day. If I am feeling good I hope to be pushing towards the front of the race.”