ST. GEORGE — Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway ran 2 hours, 38 minutes, 1 second for the marathon to cap off his men’s pro division Ironman World Championship triathlon winning performance.
Blummennfelt was the overall champion in 7:49.16. He was followed by Lionel Sanders of Canada (7:54.03) who passed third-place finisher Braden Currie (7:54.19) just tenths of a mile from the finish line.
Daniela Ryfe of Switzerland crossed the finish line first in the women’s pro division to earn her fifth world title, covering the total distance in 8:34.59. Kat Matthews of Great Britain was second (8:43.49), while Anne Haug of Germany earned the final podium spot in third (8:47.03)
The event began early morning Saturday, when over 2,500 top triathletes from around the world dove into the cold water of Sand Hollow Reservoir, as the kickoff of the Ironman World Championship triathlon began.
As the sun rose over sandstone vistas, racers swam 2.4 miles across the reservoir, a mere warm-up before dashing out of the water for their bikes to embark on a 112-mile ride.
Taking athletes past the surrounding red rock wilderness that serves as a trademark for Greater Zion, the bike route courses from Hurricane to Gunlock and is known for hills, including a relentless 4-mile hill climb.
Trading bicycles for running shoes, racers will then embark on the final stretch: a 26.2-mile course marathon that will begin at a transition area on Tabernacle Street. From there, athletes will head to Bluff Street and then follow the course to Snow Canyon Parkway, looping back through Mathis Park, a new stop along the way and a great place for spectating.
The race culminates in the heart of St. George in Town Square, where both the finish line and Ironman Village are located.
Racers will be crossing the finish line into the wee hours of Sunday morning, and St. George News is here to have you covered along the way with live updates you can find here.
UPDATE 3 p.m.: Ryf wins women’s class; Matthews 2nd
Daniela Ryfe crossed the finish line first in the women’s pro division to earn her fifth world title, covering the total distance in 8:34.59. She was followed by Kat Matthews. Currently third is Anne Haug.
UPDATE 2:40 p.m.: Pro women top 3 unchanged as finish approaches
In the women’s pro class, Daniela Ryf has an 8-plus-minute lead about 2.5 miles from the finish line. Following are Kat Matthews and Anne Haug.
UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: Blummenfelt, Sanders, Currie go 1-2-3
Kristian Blummenfelt ran 2 hours 38 minutes, 1 second for the marathon to cap off his men’s pro division Ironman World Championship winning performance. He was followed by Lionel Sanders who passed third-place finisher Braden Currie just tenths from the finish line.
UPDATE 1:33 p.m.: The 8th hour
The Ironman World Championship is in its eighth hour, which means the pro women and men will finish their 140.6-mile odyssey before too long. What started with a cold, early-morning swim will culminate with a downtown St. George finish.
If the current leaders continue as they have been for the last 90 minutes, Daniela Ryf and Kristian Blummenfelt will win their respective divisions. Podium places, however, remain to be determined. Kat Matthews and Anne aug trail Ryf by 10 minutes in the women’s race, while for the men, Braden Currie is running second with 5 miles remaining, and Lionel Sanders has moved into third.
UPDATE 1:17 p.m. p.m.: Lead change in men’s pro race
Kristian Blummenfelt has taken over the lead in the pro men’s division. He passed Braden Currie at about the 17-mile mark in the marathon.
UPDATE 1:04 p.m. p.m.: Blummenfelt closes on Currie; Ryf increases led
Kristian Blummenfelt has closed the gap on leader Braden Currie. Blummenfelt is within one minute of Currie, who is the overall leader. The leading men have approximately 10 miles remaining in the marathon.
Meanwhile Daniela Ryfe is building her lead, now running away from the women’s pro field by 8: 12 after 10 miles. Kat Mattews is running second, followed by Lisa Norden, who is 12:20 back.
UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Field chasing Ryf, Currie
Pro women (approximately 4.5 miles into marathon): 1. Daniela Ryf; 2. Kat Matthews (7:24 back); 3. Lisa Norden (10:31 back)
Pro men (approximately12 miles into marathon): Braden Currie; 2. Kristian Blummenfelt (3:10 back); 3. Sam Laidlow (3:17 back).
UPDATE Noon: Pros begin final phase of championship
Daniela Ryf and Braden Currie are first off their bikes and onto the marathon course as they lead the women’s and men’s pro triathletes enter the final phase of the Ironman World Championship.
Ryf, of Switzerland, completed the 2.4-mile swim at Sand Hollow in 54 minutes, 42 seconds, and the 112-mile bicycle section in 4 hours, 37 minutes, 47 seconds. She finished the first mile of the marathon in 5:35.
Currie, of New Zealand, finished the swim in 47:37 and the bike segment in 4:16.31. He is currently 6 miles into the 26.2-mile running portion of the championship.
UPDATE 11:40 a.m.: Ryf leads women through Washington City; Smith, Currie pacing men
Daniela Ryf pedals up Buena Vista Boulevard after leading the pro women through Washington City, followed by Kat Matthews, Lisa Norden and Skye Moench. The men are heading back out of town along Red Hills Parkway with the same leaders — Kyle Smith, Braden Currie, Florian Angert, Daniel Baekkegard and Sam Laidlow.
UPDATE 10:30 a.m.: Men navigating through flat section of ride; women work back toward St. George
The five men in the lead pack in the pro division have made their way back toward St. George and are on Snow Canyon Drive. Meanwhile, Daniela Ryf has broadened her lead and is pedaling along state Route 18. Her lead remains about 1 minute, 15 seconds.
Commentators on the Ironman Facebook Live broadcast suggest increasing temperatures and winds likely will have a greater impact on age-group participants later in the day.
UPDATE 10:12 a.m.: Hilly sections challenges leaders
Braden Currie makes a move on a long climb — “The Wall” — to take the lead briefly near Veyo, while Kyle Smith, Florian Angert, Sam Laidlow and Daniel Baekkegard continue to push the pace in the lead pack. American Sam Long is currently 11th. The racers are now in a hilly and rural section of the race west of St. George. Daniela Ryf continues to lead the women’s pro division by nearly a minute over Kat Mattews 70 miles into the biking portion. She continues to lead Kat Mattews, Lisa Norden and American Sky Moench
Current temperature: 78 degrees; expected high is 91 with possible wind gusts in excess of 30 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
UPDATE 9:20 a.m.: Ryf pads early lead; Smith leads tight pack in men’s top group
Daniela Ryf holds a 10-second lead in the women’s pro division over Kat Matthews and Sky Moench. On the men’s side, Kyle Smith, Sam Laidlow, Daniel Baekkegard, Braden Currie, Florian Argent and Cameron Wurf comprise the lead pack at the 3-hour mark.
UPDATE 8:35 a.m.: Early leaders
Lisa Norden of Sweden leads the women’s pro division 2 hours, 15 minutes, into the competition. She finished the swim in 52:39. Trailing her are Daniela Ryf of Switzerland, Kat Matthews of Great Britain and Sky Moench of the United States. They are currently 32 miles into the bike portion.
Kyle Smith of New Zealand leads the men’s pro division, 42 miles into the bicycle portion. He is followed by Sam Laidlow of France and Daniel Baeldegard of Denmark. Sam Long currently is the top American in the men’s pro division and is in 13th place, approximately 4 minutes behind the leader.
UPDATE 7:07 a.m.: Laidlow first out of water; cyclists on Red Cliffs
Sam Laidlow of France was the first Ironman competitor out of the water as the Ironman swim event got underway Saturday morning. And as of 8:05 a.m., the first bicyclists were beginning to work their way up Red Hills Parkway.
Click here for video of swim-to-bike transition.
The Race begins: Triathletes begin their 140.6-mile journey
Click here for video of the start.
Results according to the Ironman Tracker App.
St. George News reporters Jeff Richards and E. George Goold contributed to this report.
Photo Gallery
A triathlete runs the marathon during the Ironman World Championship on Saturday in St. George, May 7, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News A trathlete competes during the bike section of the Ironman World Championship on Saturday in St. George, May 7, 2022 | Photo by Stephanie Deraw, St. George News A triathlete competes during the bike section of the Ironman World Championship on Saturday in St. George, May 7, 2022 | Photo by Stephanie Deraw, St. George News Triathletes compete during the bike section of the Ironman World Championship on Saturday in St. George, May 7, 2022 | Photo by Stephanie Deraw, St. George News Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway breaks the tape at the finish of the Ironman World Championship triathlon in St. George, Utah, on May 7, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway breaks the tape at the finish of the Ironman World Championship triathlon in St. George, Utah, on May 7, 2022. Blummenfelt coverd the 140.6-mile swim, bike and run in 7 hours, 49 minutes, 16 seconds | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News Sam Laidlow from France (front right) was first out the water after completing the swim portion of the Ironman World ChampioChampionship on Saturday morning at Sand Hollow | Photo by G. Eric Goold, St. George News Four-time Ironman champion Daniella Ryf of Switzerland leads the women's pro division 39 miles into the bike segment, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Triathletes pedal their way along West 100 North, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News In this file photo for illustration purposes only, athletes compete in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Hurricane, Utah, Sept. 18, 2021 | Photo courtesy of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office, St. George News Kyle Smith leads Daniel Baekkegard 64 miles into the 112-mile cycling segment of Ironman, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Ironman competitior works his way up a hill in Washington City, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Lisa Cappiello, St. George News Spectators in Washington City watch a bicyclist Saturday morning during the Ironman World Championships, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Lisa Cappiello, St. George News Braden Currie charges to the lead during a climb around the 70-mile mark of the cycling portion of Ironman, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Daniela Ryf, a four-time world champion, leads the women's pro division of the Ironman World Championship, which is being staged in and around St. George today, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Leaders in the men's pro division navigate a downhill section. Bottom right is a topographical representation of the course, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Daniela Ryf pushed the pace early and remains in the lead as she nears the end of the 112-mile cycling segment of the Ironman World Championship, May 7, 2022 | Photo Courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Daniela Ryf pushed the pace early and remains in the lead as she nears the end of the 112-mile cycling segment of the Ironman World Championship, May 7, 2022 | Photo Courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Kristian Blummenfeld leads the marathon, the final phase of the Ironman World Championship, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Marathoners were welcomed by throngs of supporters during the Ironman World Championship, May 7, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ironman Facebook page Fans await the arrival of triathletes during the Ironman World Championship on Saturday in St. George, May 7, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
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