While all eyes were glued to Flora Duffy’s medal bid in the triathlon at the Rio Olympics, Bermuda’s other top triathlete, Tyler Butterfield, had an impressive win in the Timberman Ironman 70.3 triathlon in New Hampshire.

Continuing his preparation for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in October, Butterfield posted the second fastest run split to drop American Justin Rossi and Michi Weiss of Austria to win comfortably over Weiss and a fast-finishing Chris Baird who finished a distant third despite posting the fastest run split by two minutes.

The Timberman event is one of the well-established races on the Ironman calendar and as such attracts a number of strong long distances triathletes. This year was no exception with the likes of Tim O’Donnell, third at the 2015 Ironman World Championships, on the start line.

It was O’Donnell who led the way on the bike building up a two minute lead but he then suffered a puncture and fell back. Tyler and Rossi set the pace and put some time between themselves and the chasers. However by transition they were joined by Weiss who posted the day’s fastest bike split.

Butterfield recorded a winning time of 3hr 48min 04secs, more than a minute ahead of Weiss in 3:49.22. Baird, of the US, was third in 3:54.06.

Miranda Carfrae of Australia won the women’s race in 4:22.22.

Butterfield will be in action tomorrow when he competes in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Mooloolaba, Australia as he prepares for the Ironman World Championships on October 8.