Tempe provided a picturesque desert backdrop for athletes from around the world at the 2018 IRONMAN Arizona triathlon. Eneko Llanos (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) and Heather Jackson (Bend, Ore.) battled a competitive professional field to claim victories at the event with a time of 8:04:24 and 8:39:18, respectively.
In the men's race, Andreas Dreitz (DEU) and TJ Tollakson (USA) got off the bike together with a five minute buffer to their closest chaser. The pair exchanged the lead a number of times in the first half of the run while veteran Eneko Llanos quietly clawed his way towards the front. Llanos made the pass for the lead at around 15 miles, and the 41-year-old managed to hold that position to claim the win and a guaranteed starting spot at the 2019 IRONMAN World Championship.
On the women's side, Heather Jackson chased Carrie Lester throughout the entire 112 miles of the bike. It took the first half of the marathon for Jackson to close in and assume the lead. Jackson proved untouchable for the final 13 miles, taking the victory in a winning time of 8:39:18.
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Llanos, Eneko ESP 8:04:24
2 Alonso-Mcker, Clemente ESP 8:08:41
3 Tollakson, TJ USA 8:09:53
4 Please, David SVN 8:11:37
5 Granet, Nicholas FRA 8:15:46
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Jackson, Heather USA 8:39:18
2 Lester, Carrie AUS 8:44:13
3 Annett, Jen CAN 8:51:29
4 Moench, Skye USA 8:58:28
5 Smith, Lesley USA 9:04:51