Tyler Butterfield Places 3rd in St Croix
Bermudian triathlete Tyler Butterfield continues to excel this season, claiming a 3rd place finish in a world class field in today’s triathlon in St Croix.
More than 600 athletes competed in the St. Croix Half-Ironman 70.3 triathlon today [May 2], a qualifier for the world championship Ironman in Kona, Hawaii. The event includes a 1.2-mile swim, followed by a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
In hot, humid and hilly conditions, Mr. Butterfield took 3rd in a field stacked with world class athletes including; Craig Alexander [4 time St. Croix winner and current Hawaii Ironman World Champion], Terenzo Bozzon [former World Junior and World 70.3 Champion] and Tim O’Donnell [current World Long Course Champion and US 70.3 Champion]
Mr Butterfield had a great swim coming out of the water only a minute behind the lead group of seven. He was in a good position to make up time on the bike, however a mishap in the first six miles involved him having to get off his bike to fix his chain.
Mr Butterfield came off the bike in seventh position and ran his way through the field into 3rd place.
Over the line Mr Butterfield said “the bonuses from Tokio are good for more than the money- it means you don’t settle for fourth place”. Mr Butterfield is fortunate to have an incentive system built into his contract with Tokio Re which awards him bonuses for podium finishes in these types of events.
Mr Butterfield has performed extremely well so far this season, placing 2nd at the 2010 Waikoloa Triathlon in Hawaii on March 28, 8th at the 2010 Monterrey World Cup in Mexico on April 18 and 5th at the Ironman 70.3 U.S. Pro Championship on April 25.
Next on Mr Butterfield’s competitive schedule is a return home for the May 24th Marathon Derby, where he is expected to be amongst the top finishers in a hotly contested race.
The triathlete represented Bermuda at the 2004 Olympics, and is expected to represent the island again at the 2010 London Olympics.
