Challenge Roth 2019: Age Group Results Analysis

A look over the age group results from Challenge Roth 2019

The biggest Ironman distance event of the last weekend was Challenge Roth. Roth is a fast course with a long history and superb support. That’s enough to earn it some analysis in the absence of Kona slots. Times are fast in Roth and this year was no exception.

Distribution of Finisher Splits at Challenge Roth 2019 Compared with 2010-2018

Comparing this years result distribution with that of the last 9 years shows it to largely typical for the course. The bike and the run both trend very slightly faster than usual and that does give a marginally faster overall distribution, but this is not particularly significant.

DNS and DNF Rates at Challenge Roth
Year
Listed Athletes
Swim Finish
Swim DNS/DNF
Bike Finish
Bike DNF
Run Finish
Run DNF
Overall DNS/DNF
2010
3133
2759
11.9%
2687
2.6%
2651
1.3%
14.6%
2011
2793
2790
0.1%
2790
0%
2790
0%
0%
2012
2753
2750
0.1%
2749
0%
2748
0%
0%
2013
3407
3121
8.4%
3015
3.4%
2879
4.5%
15.4%
2014
3459
3150
8.9%
2852
9.5%
2673
6.3%
22.5%
2015
2734
2690
1.6%
2690
0%
2734
%
0%
2016
2930
2908
0.8%
2908
0%
2929
%
0%
2017
3142
3109
1.1%
3006
3.3%
2860
4.9%
8.7%
2018
3050
3040
0.3%
2920
3.9%
2831
3%
7%
2019
3272
3242
0.9%
3152
2.8%
3084
2.2%
5.2%

My data hasn’t always given a clear picture of DNFs rates (only including finishing athletes), such rows are marked in red. Where numbers are clearer, in blue, we can see this year saw a drop in the DNF rate in bike and run. So, slightly faster times and lower DNF rates there suggest good conditions on the course.

Median Splits by Age Group at Challenge Roth 2019
Median Splits by Age Group at Challenge Roth 2010-2018

Generally the pattern in the age group median splits above matches that of the distribution with slightly faster bike and run. The differences are small, particularly on the bike.

Changes in Male Finishing Times by Position at Challenge Roth
Changes in Female Finishing Times by Position at Challenge Roth

Since 2014 times for specific age group places have been quite consistent in Roth. A little annual fluctuation, but no major shift. This year is no exception. Smaller age groups, like most of the women’s field, show a bit more annual variation in times. The largest are much more consistent in results.

Top Twenty Male Performances by Age Group at Challenge Roth 2019
Top Twenty Female Performances by Age Group at Challenge Roth 2019

Top twenty age group times this year trended slightly ahead of the average. As with other differences this is mostly a small shift and often at the front of the age groups the times are average or slower. A few older male age groups have more significantly improved performances in their top twenties. Broadly though, the 2019 race was a little bit faster than usual.

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More Challenge Roth Articles
Median Splits by Age Group at Challenge Roth 2018Challenge Roth 2018: Age Group Results
Distribution of Finisher Splits at Challenge Roth 2017 Compared with 2010-2016Challenge Roth 2017: Age Group Results Analysis
Distribution of Finisher Splits at Challenge Roth 2016 Compared with 2010-2015Challenge Roth 2016: Results Analysis
Median Splits by Age Group at Challenge Roth 2015Challenge Roth 2015: Results and Analysis

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