THROUGH THE LENS: TOP RUN IMAGES FROM THE 2023 VINFAST IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN KAILUA-KONA, HAWAI`I
KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i (Oct. 14, 2023) – Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i provided the stage for an historic day as it welcomed over 2,000 registered athletes to participate in the first-ever female-only race at the VinFast IRONMAN® World Championship triathlon. Following the swim and bike leg of the race, athletes took on the HOKA run course for 26.2-miles (42.2km) past the spirited crowds on Ali`i Drive. The course then climbed up Palani Road and the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway before leading to the long-awaited HOST Park at the Natural Energy Laboratory Hawai`i Authority (NELHA). Athletes navigated the rolling course with up to 1009 ft. (307 meters) of elevation gain before a victorious lap through Kona town, culminating in the exhilaration of conquering their 140.6-mile quest and crossing an iconic finish line.
Below are top images from today’s run course.
17 HOURS: History was made today in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i as the first-ever women’s-only VinFast IRONMAN World Championship unfolded on triathlon’s historic homeland comes to a close. Over 2,000 women took on the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2- mile run. (Photo credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
OVERCOMING THE ODDS: Great Britain’s Lucy Charles-Barclay fights her way to a storybook victory, running down the iconic Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway while competing in the 26.2-mile (42km) HOKA Run Course at the Women’s 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon. (Photo credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
A FEAT OF ENDURANCE: Australian Ultra Trail Lucy Bartholomew makes her way down the Ka’ahumanu Highway. After crossing the iconic finish line on Ali`i Drive, Lucy became just the second female in history to complete the 2023 Women’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship and UTMB World Series Finals at UTMB Mont Blanc in the same calendar year. In racing both, she covered nearly 400km in just a six-week period (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
TEARS OF JOY: Great Britain’s Lucy Charles-Barclay prepares to cross the finish line of her dreams as she makes her way through the crowd on Ali`i drive en route to winning the 2023 Women’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. (Photo credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
SUNSET OVER KONA: An athlete runs beneath the setting sun along the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway on the 26.2-mile (42km) HOKA Run Course at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship on October 14 in Kailua Kona, Hawai`i (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
ON TO THE NEXT ONE: Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) is the first to enter transition after finishing the FulGaz bike course in an impressive time of 04:32.29. Taylor Knibb smiles through a sea of spectators as she aims to make up the 3:49:84 gap between herself and Lucy. (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
FLY HUMAN FLY: American Laura Brandon fly’s along the HOKA run course during the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawai`i. (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
GUIDING LIGHT: Athletes were treated to ideal conditions for a historic day at the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship. (Photo Credit: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
CHASING KONA WAVES: Germany’s Laura Philipp runs down Ali`i drive on the final stretch of the 26.2-mile (42km) HOKA Run Course the 2023 Women’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. (Photo credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
SIDE BY SIDE: Anne Haug (DEU) runs alongside IRONMAN rookie Taylor Knibb (USA) before overtaking her to claim the second spot on the podium at the 2023 Women’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. Knibb would end up fourh overall in becoming a first time IRONMAN (Photo credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)