Atlanta Track Club (ATC) masters team member and ATC board member, Mike Wien, placed second in the world (first American) in the 60-64 age group at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on Saturday, October 8, completing the event in a total time of 11:11:39. Wien qualified for the 2011 IRONMAN World Championship after placing second in his age group at the IRONMAN 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake in June.
Wien’s time of 1:14:44 for the 2.4 mile swim was a minute faster than his swim time at the IRONMAN World Championships in 2010 and placed him in 10th in his age group as he entered the bike transition area. Strong headwinds proved challenging as Wien made his way along the 112 mile bike course in a time of 6:03:30. While Wien moved down to 18th place in his age group following the bike, he was just 18 minutes behind the fifth place participant in his age group going into his strongest event, the 26.2 mile run. Wien made up considerable time during the run as he clocked a 3:43:52 marathon (8:32 minute per mile pace).
Wien, who completed his first IRONMAN back in 2004, has completed six IRONMAN events including three World Championship events, along with seven IRONMAN 70.3 events. This was Wien’s second time placing in his age group at the IRONMAN World Championship. He placed fifth in the world in the 55-59 age group in 2006.