(Boulder, Colo.)–Newton Running professional triathlete Craig “Crowie” Alexander claimed his third victory at the Ford Ironman World Championships in Hawaii on Saturday with a course-record time of 8:03:56, bettering the previous record by 12 seconds. Alexander has been a Newton Running athlete since 2007 and previously won the world championships in 2008 and 2009.
At 38 years old, Alexander is the oldest athlete to ever win the coveted world championship title.
"This was the performance I've been dreaming of," Alexander said in a finish-line interview. "My supporters are the only reason I push so hard. I left it all out there and I've got nothing left."
At Kona, Alexander was in fourth position coming off the bike behind Chris Lieto, Luke McKenzie and Marino Vanhoenacker, but took over the lead just six miles in to the marathon.
Alexander's impeccable running form and formidable speed saw him log 6:11 miles in the opening miles and secure a 1:37 lead over McKenzie by the run turnaround. Despite the 131-degree heat radiating off the tarmac, Alexander clocked 5:53 miles on the return trip along Alii Drive in his Newton Running Distance S Light Weight Trainer, his preferred training and racing shoe.
In the final miles and with a course record within reach, a hamstring cramp forced Alexander to stop three times. Each time, he resumed running immediately and held off the competition to cross the finish line first. His split for the marathon was 2:44:03.
After battling illness earlier this year, Alexander was the man to beat at Kona after setting a course record at June’s Ironman Coeur d’Alene in 8:19:48 and successfully defending his title at September’s 70.3 World Championship in Las Vegas with a time of 3:54:48.
The Australian spends half the year in his home country and the other half in Boulder, Colorado. He has been a professional triathlete for more than 12 years.
At 38 years old, Alexander is the oldest athlete to ever win the coveted world championship title.
"This was the performance I've been dreaming of," Alexander said in a finish-line interview. "My supporters are the only reason I push so hard. I left it all out there and I've got nothing left."
At Kona, Alexander was in fourth position coming off the bike behind Chris Lieto, Luke McKenzie and Marino Vanhoenacker, but took over the lead just six miles in to the marathon.
Alexander's impeccable running form and formidable speed saw him log 6:11 miles in the opening miles and secure a 1:37 lead over McKenzie by the run turnaround. Despite the 131-degree heat radiating off the tarmac, Alexander clocked 5:53 miles on the return trip along Alii Drive in his Newton Running Distance S Light Weight Trainer, his preferred training and racing shoe.
In the final miles and with a course record within reach, a hamstring cramp forced Alexander to stop three times. Each time, he resumed running immediately and held off the competition to cross the finish line first. His split for the marathon was 2:44:03.
After battling illness earlier this year, Alexander was the man to beat at Kona after setting a course record at June’s Ironman Coeur d’Alene in 8:19:48 and successfully defending his title at September’s 70.3 World Championship in Las Vegas with a time of 3:54:48.
The Australian spends half the year in his home country and the other half in Boulder, Colorado. He has been a professional triathlete for more than 12 years.