4 Utah Triathletes

IRONMAN GRIT TAKES TO GREATER ZION + 4 UTAH TRIATHLETES TO WATCH

St. George, UT (April 26, 2022) — If there’s ever a time for Utahns to be Ironman fans, it’s right now. In a landmark first, the Ironman World Championships jumps from Kona, Hawaii to St. George, Utah on May 7.Thousands of international athletes — including four Utah triathletes — qualify to run 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, then run a 26.2 miles marathon amidst the red rock landscape of Greater Zion.

Since the 1980s, Kailua-Kona has hosted this crown jewel of Ironman racing. But due to a series of pandemic postponements and rescheduling, St. George receives the high honor of hosting the 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Ironman World Championship (presented by Utah Sports Commission) this May before it returns to Kona for the 2022 Ironman World Championship in October.

St. George is no stranger to this endurance race series. The city hosts the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, also known as a half-Ironman, every October putting it in perfect positioning to host the rescheduled full-Ironman. In place of the Pacific Ocean and Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway, the Utah course will lead triathletes to Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park and Snow Canyon State Park.

FOUR UTAH TRIATHLETES TO WATCH

Qualifying for Ironman World Championships is no easy feat. It takes years of training, both on-course and off, oftentimes in grueling conditions—running in extreme weather, swimming at odd hours, i.e., “chlorine for breakfast,” and biking in basement “pain caves.” These four Utah triathletes aim to break through the finish line on May 7 to hear Mike Reilly say, “You are an Ironman!”

SKYE MOENCH, SALT LAKE CITY

Skye Moench suffered a traumatic bike crash in 2019 that left her with a shattered elbow and thumb. After multiple surgeries and physical therapy, this accountant-turned-pro triathlete hoped to race in 2020 until races were cancelled because of the pandemic. After a two-year hiatus, Moench roared back with impressive Ironman finishes in Texas and Oklahoma and finished sixth at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship last September in St. George.

KYLE BROWN, FARMINGTON

Kyle Brown, 51, of Farmington was diagnosed with ALS in 2020 and given months to live. After the diagnosis, Brown created a bucket list that included getting married and completing an Ironman 70.3. Triumphantly, he checked off both last year. He was the subject of an OutsideTV documentary on the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.

DIANE TRACY, ST. GEORGE

Diane Tracy doesn’t let age drag her down in a pack of Ironman athletes. This 71-year-old completed her first Ironman just 10 years ago at the age of 61. At 70 years young, she is going strong and ready to rock the Ironman World Championship race in her hometown of St. George.

ZACHARY JOSIE, HERRIMAN

Dwarfism hasn’t slowed down Zachary Josie, who has been crossing triathlon finish lines for the last six years. Zach was born with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EVC), a rare type of dwarfism characterized by short limbs, slightly bowed legs, and abnormal development of bones. At 35 years old, Zach has conquered Ironman 70.3 finishes in St. George, Utah and Indian Wells, Calif. He now has his eyes set on conquering the IRONMAN World Championship in St. George this May.