Sam Long Defends Title with Course Record at Ironman 70.3 North American Championship

American Sam Long successfully defended his title at the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship in St. George, Utah on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The 28-year-old set a new course record with an impressive time of 3:39:17, showcasing his dominance in the middle-distance event.

Long's exceptional performance on the bike proved to be the turning point in the race. Despite starting the bike leg with a deficit of over three minutes, he quickly closed the gap and took the lead, setting the stage for his second consecutive victory in St. George.

Pre-Race Expectations and Conditions

Long entered the race as the defending champion and with an impressive streak of five podium finishes in five races in 2024. Other notable competitors included Ben Hamilton of New Zealand, Antony Costes of France, and Jackson Laundry of Canada.

The race took place in the scenic setting of St. George, Utah, known for its challenging course and variable weather conditions.

How the Race Was Won

Swim

Start and Strategy: South African Nicholas Quenet led out of the water in 22:46, followed closely by German Magnus Manner and Marc "The Shark" Dubrick.

Veterans Justin Metzler and Antony Costes were in the first chase pack, around 40 seconds behind the leaders. Sam Long exited the swim +3:17 down in 26th place.

Bike

The bike course in St. George is known for its demanding climbs and technical descents, which played a significant role in the race outcome.

Long quickly began to close the gap on the leaders, catching the front pack by the halfway mark and dropping everyone but Maximillian Sperl. After urging Sperl to take more turns at the front, Long eventually dropped the German and entered transition alone with a 51-second lead.

Run

Long dominated the run, maintaining a strong pace throughout and extending his lead over the chasing pack.

With a blistering 1:10:46 run split, Long secured his victory and set a new course record, finishing almost four minutes faster than his winning time from the previous year.

Post-Race Reflections

"That back-to-back title sounds really good right now I must say," said Long following his victory. "I realised I could break two hours as I was nearing the top of Snow Canyon, but I got to stay on the gas. My whole goal coming into this race was to execute a great run. So even though I had a lead I was very process oriented and was just loving it out there to be honest."