JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nearly 2,000 athletes took on Jacksonville’s first full Ironman triathlon Saturday, pushing through scorching heat and a grueling 140.6-mile course that tested even the most seasoned competitors.
Pedro Gomes of Scottsdale, Arizona, crossed the finish line first with a time of 8 hours, 30 minutes and 41 seconds.
Jennifer Sylva of Jacksonville was the first woman to finish, with a total time of 9 hours, 42 minutes, and 14 seconds.
A course that demanded everything
The race covered three legs: a 2.4-mile swim in the St. Johns River, a 112-mile bike ride making two loops through Duval County and St. Johns County, and a 26.2-mile marathon to close it out, covering three loops through downtown and Riverside…