The Unsung Heroes At IRONMAN Oceanside 70.3
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (April 5, 2025) – IRONMAN Oceanside 70.3 is one of the most sought after races in the IRONMAN North American circuit, consistently selling out year after year. The 2025 edition marked the third stop on the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series calendar, attracting a stacked field of fierce competitors with fire in their eyes. And like an idyllic ending to a wholesome romcom, it was a well-loved pair of Canadians who secured the top spots in their respective fields. Lionel Sanders, the 37-year old, 4-time Oceanside 70.3 champion celebrated his birthday a day early with a first place podium in a time of 3:47:01. Paula Findlay, a 35-year old hailing from Edmonton, Alberta (but more notably remembered for her adventurous outdoor life in Bend, Oregon & triathlon brand That Triathlon Life) beat out powerhouse athlete Jackie Herring (USA) by 19 seconds in a total time of 4:16:50.
It is commonplace in triathlon media to celebrate almost exclusively the top 3 in each field. They are showered with fancy floral arrangements, champagne and a marathon of interviews. In fact, any triathlete who has spent time on top of the podium will tell you that the real, unspoken order of events in triathlon is swim, bike, run, interview. And while those interviews are critically important to capture the moments that lead champions to victory in a sport that thrives on grit, power and endurance - the unsung heroes of IRONMAN Oceanside 70.3 left us quietly celebrating some of their major accomplishments.
Photography: Katie Godec
Kristian Blummenfelt, Norwegian Olympic gold medalist & IRONMAN 140.6 World Champion, caught more than just bad luck on the bike course (a route infamous for big climbs & rough roads through the military base of Camp Pendleton).
A punctured tire early on in the race left Blummenfelt battling with his wheel for more than 14 minutes, as a large majority of his competition whizzed past. With hopes of a spot on the podium dashed, Kristian dug deep into his reserves and systematically regained some of the territory he relinquished while stuck on the side of the road.
Blummenfelt went on to light up the Oceanside run course, establishing a new blazing course record of 1:07:19. Crossing the finish line in 15th place meant that Blummenfelt would miss out on the flowers & champagne showers. But as a gold medalist, Kona champion & Supertri dropout - Kristian could not escape the interview-marathon. He spent a considerable part of his post-race moments posing with fans, catching up with triathlon darling Bob Babbitt and slamming a can of Coke in-between smiles.
Copyright Katie Godec, Trilife Media
Ben Kanute raced with his full heart at IRONMAN Oceanside 70.3. As an US Olympian triathlete and returning Oceanside champion (winning in both 2019 and 2022), Kanute used his intimate knowledge of the course to race smart.
Despite losing some nutrition on the bike course, Ben held his own over the course of the day against some of the toughest competition Oceanside has seen to date. With a strong swim, a lead-pack bike split and a lightening fast sprint finish alongside competitor Jake Birtwhistle - Ben Kanute delivered a top performance with his 5th place.
“I made the most of the hand I was dealt, just like everyone else, and happy to walk away feeling like I made the absolute most of it.”
Copyright Katie Godec, Trilife Media
Edoardo Leone (Edo), a 23-year old collegiate triathlete completed his first IRONMAN 70.3 distance in Oceanside despite seemingly insurmountable odds. A mere 7 days before, Leone clinched his 2nd consecutive victory at the USAT Collegiate Club National Championships in Miami, Florida for UCLA. His win in 2024 secured Leone an elite license and an official slot on the Men’s Pro start list in Oceanside.
Leone suffered a devastating crash on the bike course, dropping him down to 50th place as he rolled into T2 with a bleeding & gashed shin. In a display of true grit, Edoardo powered his way across the run course with an average pace of 5:50min per mile and an overall run split of 1:17:47 - as reported by Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO).
Edoardo shares that although he is disappointed about the outcome of his first 70.3, he has big goals for the future. Leone was greeted at the finish line by fellow Bruin teammates who proudly hoisted a sign adorned with a hand-drawn lion in a nod to his Italian last name.
Copyright Katie Godec, Trilife Media