ST. GEORGE — Swimmers dived in at 7 a.m. Saturday to start off the 2019 Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship at the Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane, as hundreds gathered to cheer thousands of triathletes as they swim, bike and run their way through Southern Utah.
It was breezy to start the morning, and the water was approximately 64 degrees as swimmers started off the race.
This year’s Ironman includes many athletes who are familiar with one of the most challenging fields, as well as two world champions and 70 professional athletes. More notably, St. George was recently selected to be the host for the 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Championship triathlon.
For those wanting to cheer on athletes, the finish line will be at 50 S. Main St. in St. George. For detailed road closures, you can visit the Ironman website. Details on suggested alternate routes can be found here.
The first male professional athlete, Rodolphe Von Berg, has started running at approximately 9:25 a.m. The first female professional athlete, Holly Lawrence, was in transition from biking to running at 9:35 a.m.
The winner of this year’s Ironman 70.3 is Von Berg. He crossed the finish line at 10:39 — making his triathlon in a little less than 4 hours.
Lawrence, who was the first female to cross the finish line, set a new course record.
Read more: Von Berg, Lawrence win Ironman 70.3 St. George triathlon; women’s course record shattered
Photos and information will be updated as the race goes along. Check our Facebook page for live broadcasts.
Reporters Hollie Reina and Jeff Richards contributed to this report.
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A swimmer coming out of the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir during the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Hurricane, Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Volunteers help a swimmer get off his wet-suit at Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane, Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Swimmers at the start line for the 2019 Ironman 70.3 race at Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane, Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Athletes biking for the 2019 Ironman 70.3 race in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Bikers near Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane, Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
An athlete biking near Dixie Rock in St. George, Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Bikers at the start line for the 2019 Ironman 70.3 race in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Rodolphe Von Berg is the first professional male athlete to transition from biking to running for the 2019 Ironman 70.3 race in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Some of the first runners of the 2019 Ironman 70.3 race in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Holly Lawrence, the first female professional athlete to start running during the 2019 Ironman 70.3 race in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Last year's winner Paula Findlay running in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A volunteer hands out water as a runner passes by during the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Kids cheer on their family member, who's participating in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Participants prepare to transition from biking to running at the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
People watch as runners go by during the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Winner Rodolphe Von Berg crosses the finish line at the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Runners and bikers on Tabernacle Street in St. George, Utah, for the 2019 Ironman 70.3 on May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Holly Lawrence, the first female professional athlete to start running, heads toward the finish line of the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Holly Lawrence crosses the finish line of the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
The top three female winners of the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Runners enter the roundabout on Tabernacle and Main Street in St. Geore, Utah, for the 2019 Ironman 70.3 on May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Runners head toward the finish line of the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A runner at the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
An athlete cools off in the fountain near Main Street in St. George, Utah, after finishing the 2019 Ironman 70.3 on May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Professional triathlete Ben Hoffman makes the climb out of Snow Canyon State Park during the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Professional triathlete Ben Hoffman makes the climb out of Snow Canyon State Park during the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
The medals participants of the 2019 Ironman 70.3 will receive | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Participant in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A participant in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Participants in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Participants biking in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Participants swimming in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | File photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A participant who just finished the swimming portion of the 2019 Ironman 70.3 in Southern Utah, May 4, 2019 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2019, all rights reserved.
Markee Heckenliable has lived in St. George for 10 years and graduated from Dixie State University in 2018 with her bachelor's degree in mass communication. She's the former editor in chief of the Dixie Sun News, Dixie State's student-run news organization. She also served as features and news editor in the past. Markee is an avid coffee drinker and loves to spend time with her dogs more than her human friends.