This past Saturday, May 1, more than 2,000 professional and amateur athletes participated in the inaugural Ford Ironman St. George Triathlon – including at least 2 SunRiver residents. A professional field consisting of some of the sport’s top contenders competed for the title, including a number of previous Ironman champions. The men’s winner was Michael Weiss of Austria, who turned in an amazing time of 8 hours and 25 minutes, and the women’s champion was Heather Wurtele of Canada, coming in at 9 hours and 35 minutes.
One of only 22 events in the Ironman global series, Ford Ironman St. George takes athletes along a 2.4-mile swim in the Sand Hollow Reservoir followed by a 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run through downtown St. George, Snow Canyon and Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. Ford Ironman St. George distributed a $50,000 professional prize purse and a total of 72 slots for the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship, regarded as the world’s most challenging endurance event, taking place on October 9 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Participants in Saturday’s event ranged in age from 18 to 73 and represented nearly all 50 states and more than 25 countries.
http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20105020328
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15000739?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
