ST. GEORGE – We’ve admired the swim, lauded the pros and been awed by first finishers of Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro Championship; but there is more to be recognized.
The everyman Ironman fills the region, persists for the first time, second time or last time, garners the support of friends and family, races for causes personal and more broad and will speak of this day for years to come. Each has their own story, more than we can tell, and we give them tribute.
They are, after all, champions each in their own way: those who compete and those handing out waters, those tending to scraped knees and perhaps a broken wheel, those clanging bells and those fixated on smartphones – each one tracking one very special competitor. You know if you’re watching, it’s about them, each and every one of them.
It’s about the St. George community as a whole, throwing its heart into a warm welcome to people from at least 23 countries who came to plant their feet for a time on Southern Utah’s rich red soil.
And it’s about reunions, as some faces become more and more familiar returning from prior years – remember “Fireman Bob“? He’s back.
Ironman 70.3 St. George is about all these things. And St. George News shot video, and shot photos, from Sand Hollow to Town Square.
Now it’s time for you to find your Ironman!
Click the arrow above, scroll through photos below. Enjoy.
Ed. note: Names captioned on photos are drawn from Ironman’s Leaderboard Web page.
Go Mom! Go Team Epic! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
L: Wearing bib 1538, Michael Porter, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Front three from L-R, wearing bib numbers 1877, 2334 and 2546, Darrin Hullinger, USA, Neum Schmickrath, USA, Rachel Drayer, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Wearing bib 1121, Brent Barney, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
First two, front to back, wearing bibs 1247 and 887, Steven Mackay, USA, Kelly Bunting, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Front, bib 1864, Branson Hadfield, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Support! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
R-L in far lane, wearing bib numbers 2406 and 366: Christian Janelle, Canada, and Tanner Hicks, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
“Fireman Rob” Verhelst, of Wisconsin, and 9/11 Ground Zero search and recovery fireman, has completed 15 Ironman and seven Ironman 70.3 triathlons in full firefighter gear weighing 50 pounds, according to his website, and that likely does not include Saturday's. In 2013, Verhelst told St. George News his mission was all about kids, and showing kids that anything is possible. Welcome back, Fireman Rob. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Wearing bib no. 925, Tonia Jorgenson, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
While competitors were cycling and running, children were playing in the St. George Town Square Park. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
L-R wearing bib nos. 627 and 1647, Gerald Brady, USA, James Farley, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Wearing bib 2000, Alyssa Erickson, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
To the finish! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Wearing bib 1371, Ray Buttars, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Wearing bib 1112, Gary Sowell, USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Wearing bib 2740, "Team Team Strader," USA. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Medals! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
She did it! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Receiving his medal, wearing bib 813, Fernando Ramirez, Costa Rica. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
This woman is an Ironman. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
He did it! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
It's gotta feel good! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
From Sand Hollow to splash pad?! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Wearing bib 813, Fernando Ramirez, Costa Rica. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Praise, thanks, exhale?! Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Naptime. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Those who wait get treats. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Finishers get eats. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
After the race, debrief. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Pull up a chair. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Relax. Refresh. Enjoy. Everyman champions. Ironman 70.3 St. George, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2015 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
St. George News Videographers Dan Fowlks and Sheldon Demke contributed to this report, Fowlks from a motorcycle on course, Demke from … Sand Hollow to the Town Square. St. George News Photographer Dave Amodt contributed to this report from Town Square.
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Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.
Joyce Kuzmanic has been editor in chief of St. George News since 2012, having contributed as a reporter and assistant editor since the publication's inception in 2010. Before St. George News, Joyce has been a private business owner and enjoyed a long career as a paralegal in real estate, business and tax law transactions.
She enjoys hospitality, thinking, reading and adventuring in the great outdoors. Joyce currently resides in St. George with her husband and her dog, Scratch.