Alistair Brownlee made his presence felt at IRONMAN 70.3 St. George with a win and course record against some of the best middle and long distance athletes in the world. Reigning world champion, Holly Lawrence made it a double victory for British athletes by winning the women’s event by a comfortable margin.

Brownlee was second out of the swim but already into the lead after the first transition. He rode supremely well on the 56 mile hilly, non-drafting course to give himself more than a two minute advantage at the start of the 13.1 mile run.

His final time of 3:41:58 was a course record and the win secures him a place at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in September. Tim Don, a former winner on this course, finished in an excellent fourth place.

Lawrence, who was most recently based in South Wales but is now living in Southern California, made it a double British victory. She is the reigning world champion and demonstrated excellent form in Utah today with another convincing win. Rachel Joyce, a former podium finisher in Kona, finished fourth in only her second race since having a baby last year.

RESULTS: IRONMAN 70.3 St. George, North American Championships; 1.9km, 90km, 21.1km:

ELITE MEN

1. Alistair Brownlee, GBR, 3:41:58
2. Lionel Sanders, CAN, 3:42:31
3. Sebastian Kienle, GER, 3:46:20
4. Tim Don, GBR, 3:48:26
DNF Stuart Hayes
DNF Mark Buckingham

ELITE WOMEN

1. Holly Lawrence, GBR, 4:12:07
2. Jeanni Seymour, ZAF, 4:15:12
3. Ellie Salthouse, AUS, 4:22:25
4. Rachel Joyce, GBR, 4:25:46

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