Over 3,000 athletes participated in the Cairns Airport Ironman Cairns Asia Pacific Championship and Ironman Cairns 70.3 on Sunday.
They enjoyed almost prefect triathlon conditions with temperatures of 17 – 26OC, cloud cover throughout the day and a couple of light showers scattered across the afternoon.
The swim was held at beautiful Palm Cove, the cycle along the scenic coastal Captain Cook Highway up to Port Douglas and back to Cairns for the run which traversed the length of the Cairns Esplanade. Spectators turned out to cheer everyone on through each leg, with a good crowd gathering at the finish line to see the athletes complete their race.
Queenslander Josh Amberger took out first place in the Ironman Men’s with a time of 8 hours 2 minutes and 17 seconds for his first ever Ironman Cairns. Fellow Queenslander Sarah Crowley took out the women’s first place, coming up from third place last year, with a time of 8 hours 58 minutes and 14 seconds. The Ironman 70.3 male winner was Dan Plews who completed the course in 4 hours 9 minutes and 4 seconds, and Madi Roberts was the first female to cross the line in 4 hours 32 minutes and 26 seconds.
Many athletes commented on what a spectacular course and a fantastic event this is.
Cairns Airport is proud to be the naming rights sponsor for Cairns Airport Ironman Cairns Asia Pacific Championship and the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival and looks forward to welcoming even more visiting athletes and their support crews in 2018.