Duo Hanschke and Levet triumph in the 20th Ironman 70.3 Hawaii race
Smashing the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii: The Planet's Toughest Triathletes Test The Waters of West Hawaii
Last Saturday,West Hawaii was the battleground for some of the globe's most formidable triathletes competing in the 20th annual Ironman 70.3 Hawaii. Known as the half Ironman, the event did not disappoint.
The triathletes, ages 18 to 82, began their grueling day swimming 1.2 miles through the breathtaking turquoise waters off the Fairmont Orchid grounds, then transitioned to a 56-mile bike ride through South Kohala's rolling hills before concluding with a 13.1-mile run through the iconic Mauna Lani Golf Course and stark lava fields. The finish line was situated at the scenic oceanfront of the Fairmont Orchid.
Zachary Levet of Texas claimed victory in the men's 25-29 division with a time of 4:18:47. This incredible win marked a significant leap for Levet, elevating him from 85th overall in 2023.
Levet had a slower start in the swim, finishing with the 28th-fastest time among men. However, he swiftly made up ground in the bike ride to Hawi and back, clocking in with the second-fastest time for men (2:17:15). He concluded his resilient four-plus-hour race with the fastest run time of the 1,000 competing triathletes (1:14:14), running at an impressive 6:26 pace.
Mexico's Sebastian Radilla came in second behind Levet in the men's 18-24 division, finishing in 4:20:38. Radilla showcased consistency in all three legs of the race, with the 7th-fastest swim (27:49), the third-fastest bike (2:19:56), and the third-fastest run (1:26:53).
Australia's Ryan Miller (45-49 division) rounded out the top three overall in the men's race, finishing in 4:24:29. Miller's run was the strongest part of his race, with a time of 1:27:05 - the fourth-fastest among men. He swam in 31:33 and biked in 2:20:23.
Australia's Bailey Tuddenham placed fourth overall with a time of 4:25:25, having the fastest bike ride of the day (2:16:51) and a respectable swim (27:06), as well as a solid run (1:36:01).
Kamehameha-Hawaii alum Davis Kaahanui (25-29 division) completed the top five, racing in 4:26:27, slightly behind his 4:09:54 finish in 2023. Kaahanui closed strong, finishing second in terms of the fastest run (1:26:09). He had an efficient bike ride (2:16:51), and a less distinguished swim (32:18).
Women's Division
In the women's race, Mexico's Alina Hanschke (40-44 division) clinched the overall title in 4:41:13, winning by over two-and-a-half minutes. Hanschke had a fair start to the day with a swim time of 31:08, but performed best in the bike and run, placing third-fastest on the bike (2:37:35) and first among women in the run (1:26:32).
Hanschke reflected on her victory, saying, "Winning this race wasn't just about taking first place - it was about experiencing what Kona is from a completely different perspective... I wanted to see the island in a new light, different from when I competed in the (2022) World Championship." Hanschke also dedicated her win to her family, her triathlon club and foundation, AlinaNutriSport, and her two children.
A.A.L.S Barbosa of Brazil (women's 35-39 division) finished second with a time of 4:43:48, showing impressive prowess on the bike, clocking the fastest time of any woman (2:28:59). She had a decent swim (32:16) and run (1:36:19).
Victoria Feng (25-29 division) of California took third overall in the women's field with a time of 5:02:06. Feng had a blazing start in the swim (28:05), competitive bike ride (2:34:01), and solid run (1:53:08).
Kayla Kielar (40-44 division) of the United States placed fourth with a time of 5:16:23, showing potential with her swim (35:15), bike (2:49:40), and run (1:44:30).
Teresa Webb (45-49 division) of the United States rounded out the women's top five with a total time of 5:17:57, logging in 30:23 in the swim, 2:50:19 in the bike, and 1:49:20 in the run.
Last year's women's champion, Meghan Grant of the United States, just missed the top five, finishing in sixth with a time of 5:19:33.
To find detailed results for the 2024 Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, visit the official IRONMAN website or search for relevant articles online. More detailed results for the 2025 event might be available as these results are typically reported in local sports news outlets.
Triathletes not only tested their endurance during the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, but also showcased their skills in sports across three challenging legs. The grueling race involved swimming, cycling, and running, with participants competing in various age groups.
