News LIVE: Blummenfelt wins again, Kanute 2nd in men’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship

Written by E. George Goold
October 29, 2022
Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt celebrates his victory in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in downtown St. George, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt sat on the shoulder of American Ben Kanute for the first 10 miles of the 13.1-mile run — the final phase of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.

Kristian Blummenfelt leads the pack out of Sand Hollow and out onto the course as the men begin their trek toward St. George during the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News

And then he threw in a surge to distance himself from Kanute and the rest of the men’s field to earn another Ironman victory in St. George.

The men’s professional field entered the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir at around 7:30 a.m Saturday.

Reigning 70.3 World Champion Gustav Iden from Norway was expected to back up his recent full Ironman World Championship with a back-to-back victory.

Countryman Blummenfelt won the full Ironman event in St. George last May.

Race updates follow below, and a full report will be posted on the St. George News website later today.

7:50 a.m.: Ben Kanute is first out of the water and onto the bike segment, followed by other favorites, including Blummenfelt, Iden Aaron Royle and Long.

8:25 a.m.: Blummenfelt leads the pack out of Sand Hollow and out onto the course as the men begin their trek toward St. George.

Start of the Men’s Pro Race for the swim leg during the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 202 | Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images for Ironman, St. George News

8:30 a.m.: American Sam Long, chasing the leaders, receives blue-card drafting penalty on the climb out of Sand Hollow after Canadian Jackson Laundry attempt to pass him, which causes Long to slow while passing another competitor. Long, therefore, is required to wait five minutes in the next aid station.

9:10 a.m.: Top five competitors are separated by six seconds, with Blummenfelt still leading and Kanute currently fourth.

9:25 a.m.: Denmark’s Magnus Ditlev takes over the lead as the athletes near Snow Canyon State Park and a lengthy climb.

9:48 a.m.: Current top three: Ditlev, Germany’s Fred Funk and Blummenfelt as the athletes approach the bike-to-run transition area.

9:57 a.m.: Leaders make the transition from bike to run.

American Ben Kanute leads Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt through downtown St. George as the athletes work through the middle section of the running phase of the men’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship triathlon, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News

10:14 a.m.: Kanute took over the lead position in the race as the professional men jumped off their bikes and started the run to the finish line. Blummenfelt, after being the first racer out of the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir, fell into second place behind Kanute. Two Danish triathletes, Ditlev and Miki Tagholt, were in third and fifth place respectively. Funk, in fourth, rounded out the lead group as they took to the running course.

10:35 a.m.: Gustav Iden, reigning world and 70.3 champion, withdraws at halfway point of run.

The champion is expected to cross the line in St. George sometime after 11 a.m. Pictures to follow.

10:50 a.m.: Blummenfelt takes over the lead, followed by Kanute and Ditlev, as athletes approach the finish line in downtown St. George.

11:08 a.m.: Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt wins the men’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Kanute, Ditlev and Knoodt and Funk round out the top five.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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