Flanagan, Potts out of Water 1-2 in Kona

At the start of the 2009 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii this morning on Saturday, October 10th, it was all about TYR-sponsored John Flanagan and Andy Potts in the grueling, rough waters of the 2.4-mile swim. The two swim stand-outs stayed out in front together ahead of the entire pack wearing the Tracer Sayonara, to run up on the beach and entire T1 1-2. They finished nearly three minutes ahead of the third place. The race began at 6:46am for the professional athletes, with the temperature on the island hovering around 79 degrees with humidity of 70 percent. Immediately, it was 34-year-old Flanagan and 33-year-old Potts who set the pace for the entire professional field. Before the race, Potts reiterated his desire to get out in front in order to force the rest of the men’s field to work hard to catch on the bike. He was incredibly successful, as 23 minutes into the leg the two athletes had a 30m lead ahead of third. Flanagan was expected to be ahead of the field after a first place swin finish in the 2008 Ironman World Championships. A Hawaii-native, he has a decorated open-water distance career under his belt as a four-year US National Team member and a gold medalist in the open water distances at both the 1998 World Championships and the 1999 Pan Pacific Games. Potts also boasts an incredible swim career prior to transitioning to the sport of triathlon, also representing Team USA on the swim team, as well as becoming a decorated NCAA All-American athlete while at the University of Michigan. Flanagan led the pack from 7:12am on, and showed outstanding teamwork, flipping over to make sure Potts was following close behind. The two were not slowed by the swell in the water, as they emerged almost three minutes ahead of the third finisher. Flanagan clocked 47:42, while Potts dropped nearly a minute off his split from last year’s race, finishing in 47:45.