Lionel Sanders crosses the finish line in 3:48:18, first place overall and for pro men in Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. St. George, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Andy Griffin, St. George News
NEWS LIVE: This report contains news live as it develops and is being updated continuously. Bookmark and refresh the page periodically for updates and photos. Last update 3:30 p.m. Fin.
Top finishes:
First in at 3:48:18 it’s Lionel Sanders, of Canada. From the Ironman blog, “That time is unreal folks. Crazy fast.”
First in for pro women is Heather Wurtele, of Canada, with a finishing time of 4:16:48. From the Ironman blog, “Heather Wurtele continues to prove she’s one of the best 70.3 athletes out there with a big back to back win at St. George!”
ST. GEORGE – The Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship race is on, marking the seventh consecutive year that St. George has hosted an Ironman or Ironman 70.3 triathlon. This is your news LIVE for quick photos and reports as the race progresses.
Professional triathletes are competing for a prize purse of $100,000, which will be distributed among the top 10 male and female professional finishers.
In addition, more than 2,700 registered athletes representing 24 countries are competing for 30 age-group qualifying slots for the 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Championship that will take place in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia Sept. 4.
Facing these competitors is a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike race and 13.1-mile run. The triathletes have eight hours and 30 minutes after the final swim wave to complete the triathlon.
Outdoor temperature at 7 a.m. was 54 degrees with a high of 68 degrees forecast for the day overall. Water temperature at Sand Hollow Saturday morning is 64 degrees, 4 degrees warmer than last year. Skies are overcast with fairly steady rain falling during the swim portion of the race.
Good stuff: When a bicycle spoke broke on competitor Michael Daily’s bike, St. George Police Officer Vincent Lusk was there and gave him his jacket. It was so cold the athlete had goosebumps. They fixed the bike and the officer told Daily to keep his jacket. Daily did and rode off wearing that policeman’s jacket.
St. George News Reporter Hollie Reina contributed to this report from Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane.
Photos are arranged somewhat chronologically, most recent first (at the top)
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Heather Wurtele crosses the finish line in 4:16:48, first place for pro women in Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. St. George, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Andy Griffin, St. George News
Top 3 Pro Women finishers Heather Wurtele (center),
Holly Lawrence (right),
Meredith Kessler (left). Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. St. George, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Andy Griffin, St. George News
Top three pro men finishers Lionel Sanders (center), Sebastian Kienle (left) and Joe Gambles (right). Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. St. George, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Andy Griffin, St. George News
Lionel Sanders crosses the finish line in 3:48:18, first place overall and for pro men in Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. St. George, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Andy Griffin, St. George News
Finish line awaits the competitors of Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. St. George, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Andy Griffin, St. George News
Competitors on bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Billye Burnett, St. George News
Ironman competitor cycles by Bike Aid Station No. 2. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Bob Vosper, St. George News
Competitors on bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Billye Burnett, St. George News
Volunteers at Bike Aid Station No. 2 set to aid bikers on the course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Bob Vosper, St. George News
Competitors on bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Billye Burnett, St. George News
Volunteers set to aid bikers on the course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Bob Vosper, St. George News
Ironman competitor cycles by Bike Aid Station No. 2. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Bob Vosper, St. George News
Competitors on bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Competitors on bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Volunteers set to aid bikers on the course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Bob Vosper, St. George News
Competitors on bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Competitors on bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Volunteers at Bike Aid Station No. 2 set to aid bikers on the course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Bob Vosper, St. George News
Ironman competitor cycles by Bike Aid Station No. 2. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Bob Vosper, St. George News
Competitors on bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Washington County, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Triathlete early on in the course after the swim-cycle transition at Sand Hollow State Park. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Triathletes early on in the course after the swim-cycle transition at Sand Hollow State Park. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Triathletes early on in the course after the swim-cycle transition at Sand Hollow State Park. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Triathletes early on in the course after the swim-cycle transition at Sand Hollow State Park. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Triathletes early on in the course after the swim-cycle transition at Sand Hollow State Park. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Triathletes early on in the course after the swim-cycle transition at Sand Hollow State Park. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Bikes awaiting. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Every competitor has a numbered bag with their gear for the transition from swim to bike. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Volunteers are a huge force in making the Ironman 70.3 a success for everyone. Here they are helping competitors at the transtion from swim to bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
This competitor is being wheeled into the medical tent at Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Competitors transitioning from swim to bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Competitors transitioning from swim to bike course. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Competitor transitioning from swim to bikecourse. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Heather Wurtele coming out of the water, ninth of the pro women at Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Meredith Kessler with Holly Lawrence on her heels coming out of the water first and second, respectively, in the pro women group at Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pro woman in the swim at Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pro triathlete Cameron Dye coming out of the water first among the pro men competing for Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
First of pro mens swim comes out of the water. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pro men readying for the swim at Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Age-group competitors head for the swim segment of the Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Age-group competitors ready for the swim segment of the Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Age-group competitors ready for the swim segment of the Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pro triathlete Meredith Kessler before the swim. Kessler was the first pro woman out of the water at Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Triathletes in the bike corral before the swim begins. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Competitor readying for the race. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Triathletes in the bike corral before the swim begins. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Athletes and others milling about before the triathlon begins. Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship. Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane, Utah, May 7, 2016 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joyce Kuzmanic has been editor in chief of St. George News since 2012, having contributed as a reporter and assistant editor since the publication's inception in 2010. Before St. George News, Joyce has been a private business owner and enjoyed a long career as a paralegal in real estate, business and tax law transactions.
She enjoys hospitality, thinking, reading and adventuring in the great outdoors. Joyce currently resides in St. George with her husband and her dog, Scratch.
Yeah go competitors. Where are the winner’s from?