Posted: April 10, 2006

Triathlon: Lovato wins Ford Ironman Arizona

By Helen Manning

Tempe, AZ – It was a fight all day but Michael Lovato of Boulder, CO triumphed over a very competitive field to claim the 2006 Ford Ironman Arizona title. Lovato came off the bike with a small lead and throughout the marathon was threatened by Spencer Smith of Great Britain and fellow American Tim DeBoom. First and second place were just two minutes apart with Lovato posting a time of 8:20:56 and Smith 8:22.56, DeBoom finished in 8:37.29.

Lovato finished in second place at the inagural Ford Ironman Arizona in 2005 and returned this year looking to improve that position. Speaking to the crowd after his race he commented that he’d never led off the bike before and the clearly delighted winner said "I was running scared right from the tent,". This win gives 32-year-old Lovato his second Ironman title, the first coming at the 2003 Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene.

Smith is coming back after a serious bike accident last year and his second place here at Ford Ironman Arizona along with a third place at the recent Ford Ironman 70.3 Ironman Triathlon would indicate that he’s back in great form. In addition to a stellar short course triathlon career, the 29-year-old, who now resides in the U.S. has two previous Ironman titles to his credit.

Two-time Ford Ironman World Champion Tim DeBoom ran a very respectable marathon at 2:54:43 to move from 7th coming off the bike up to a podium finish in third. DeBoom will add this result to his impressive record of top three finishes at Ironman events over the past six years.

Rounding out the top five finishers were Swen Sundberg of Germany and Sergio Marques from Portugal. Also notable is the performance of Petr Vabrousek of the Czech Republic who 8th place her in Tempe, in his third Ironman in the last two months.

Ford Ironman Arizona was held today for the 2nd time in Tempe, Arizona. Athletes are eligible for 80 qualifying spots to the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii as well as a $75,000. pro prize purse. For more information, log onto www.ironmanarizona.com

Top Ten Men Finishers Overall

1.	MICHAEL LOVATO, USA 8:20:56 
2.	SPENCER SMITH, Britain 8:22:56
3.	TIMOTHY DEBOOM, USA 8:27:39
4.	SWEN SUNDBERG , Germany  8:30:07
5.	SERGIO MARQUES, Portugal  8:31:26
6.	STIJN DEMEULEMEESTER, Belgium  8:39:26
7.	JENS KOEFOED, Denmark  8:42:41
8.	PETR VABROUSEK, Czech Republic  8:44:54
9.	JAMIE CLEVELAND, Canada 8:46:42
10.	DAVE HARJU, Canada  8:51:14

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