Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas champions

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Matt Hanson (USA) and Jodie Robertson (USA) battled their way back onto the podium with impressive victories at Saturday's 2017 Memorial Herman IRONMAN® North American Championship Texas triathlon.

Hanson smashed his own course record finishing in 07:52:44, while Robertson claimed the title with a time of 08:56:32 – both receiving automatic bids to this year’s IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i.

Ronnie Schildknecht (CHE) finished in second place for the men with a time of 7:56:21 while Tyler Butterfield (BMU) rounded out the podium in third with a time of 7:58:29, respectively. On the women’s side, Michaela Herlbauer (AUT) finished second with a time of 8:59:31 and Maja Stage-Nielsen (DNK) finished third with a total time of 9:01:00.

The 2017 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas triathlon saw more than 2,600 athletes representing 51 countries and 47 states start the race. Competitors ranged in age from 18–80 years old. One of more than 40 events in the global IRONMAN Series, the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas triathlon led athletes along a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout The Woodlands and its surrounding areas. The swim took place in Lake Woodlands, while the one-loop bike course took participants through Montgomery and Harris Counties. Athletes were then greeted by lots of supporters during the triple-loop run entirely within The Woodlands that concluded with a finish on Waterway Ave. The event offered a total professional prize purse of $150,000 and 75 coveted age group qualifying slots to the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship, taking place on October 14 in Kailua Kona, Hawai`i.

A full race recap will be available at www.ironman.com/triathlon-news/ironman-life.aspx. Full results for the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas triathlon can be found at www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/texas/results.aspx.