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
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