Maia Watson shows her relief at being the first woman to finish at the 2024 Salem Ironman 70.3 race on July 21, 2024. Her time was 4:12:51. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Participants in the Salem Ironman 70.3 cross the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge at Riverfront Park on their way to the swim start on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Participants in the Salem Ironman 70.3 race cross the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge at Riverfront Park on their way to the swim start on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Participants in the Salem Ironman 70.3 race to cross the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge at Riverfront Park on their way to the swim start on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Over 3,000 participants and supporters walked down the path on the way to the swim start at the Salem Ironman 70.3 on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Luke Tasker is first to finish the 1.2 mile swim in the Willamette River with a 16:17 time at Riverfront Park during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. Tasker went on to win the race. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A happy athlete leaves the swim platform during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on their way to the swim start on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)An athlete approaches the swim platform after finishing their 1.2 mile swim in the Willamette River during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)An athlete prepares to leave the swim platform during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on their way to the swim start on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Competitors run up the ramp from the swim platform to where their bikes are to start the second leg of the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Volunteers stood ready to assist with wetsuit removal at the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Participants leave Riverfront Park and enter Front Street to start their 56 mile ride during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)This team included a visually impaired member at the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Athletes prepare to start on the 56 mile bike ride after completing their swim during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A participant riding on Front Street starting the 56 mile bike course during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Luke Tasker in first place running across the Peter Courtney Bridge at the start of the 13.1. mile run during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Tyler Jerram runs across the Peter Courtney Bridge at the start of the 13.1. mile run during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. Jerram finished the race fourth. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Jeff Krause runs across the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge at the start of the 13.1. mile run during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Luke Tasker wins the 2024 Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024, with an overall time of 3:53:00. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Ironman 70.3 Oregon winner Luke Tasker cools off after finishing the race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Luke Tasker, the winner of the 2024 Salem Ironman 70.3 Race, takes water and congratulations from a local volunteer at the on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Luke Tasker, the winner of the 2024 Salem Ironman 70.3 Race, enjoys a moment with a friend after winning the race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Todd Teren takes a minute to savor second place overall in the 2024 Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Úrsula Legaria Menéndez celebrates finishing third for women at the 2024 Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Salem Ironman 70.3 competitors run into Minto-Brown Island Park to start the last 13.1 mile leg of the race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A very happy participant crossing the finish line at the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race at Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A competitor in the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race bikes to Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)An athlete swims in the Willamette River during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)An athlete swims in the Willamette River during the Salem Ironman 70.3 Race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Swimmers cross the Willamette River and approach Riverfront Park during the during the Salem Ironman 70.3 race on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Ironman 70.3 competitors bike to Riverfront Park on July 21, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Correction: This article originally misidentified triathlete Úrsula Legaria Menéndez in a photo caption. Salem Reporter apologizes for the error.
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
