Marley Beckett, celebrates at the finish line after winning the women's competition in Salem on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Salem’s fifth 70.3 mile Ironman triathlon kicked off at sunrise Sunday as hundreds of wetsuit-clad athletes marched across the bridge in Riverfront Park.
The triathlon drew over 2,500 racers and thousands of spectators , including the relatives friends and coworkers of the competitors.
Racers swam, biked and ran through downtown and south Salem starting at 6:15 a.m., with the last few racers crossing the finish line after 4 p.m.
A swim group waits to start walking across the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge at 5:45 am towards the Willamette River at the beginning of the Ironman 70.3 competition at Riverfront Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
After a leisurely walk to Minto-Brown Island Park, racers dove into the Willamette River to water temperatures above 70 degrees.
The fastest swimmers emerged from the 1.2-mile course in just under 20 minutes. Volunteer “wetsuit peelers” sprang into action as racers shed their suits as they transitioned to biking.
Volunteer tears off a racer’s wetsuit during the Ironman 70.3 Oregon race on Sunday, June 20, 2025. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
The crowd supported the athletes with applause, cowbells and cheers of encouragement.
Bikes darted out of the park and raced down Front Street towards Commercial Street, starting on a 56-mile route.
Athletes transitioned from bikes to foot to run the final leg that ended at the finish line in Riverfront Park.
Cowbells and cheers resumed at the finish line.
The top three racers – Zane Moore, Ian Hildebrandt and Emmanuel Lopez – burst through the finish line at 10:20 a.m. in quick succession.
Moore, 19, a Portland native came out on top with an event time of 3:59:17.
Ironman 70.3 will return to Salem in 2026, and continue annually through 2028.
Zane Moore, Ironman race winner, at the finish line at Riverfront Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)A competitor takes a much deserved break after finishing the Ironman race at Riverfront Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)A fan club shows its support for a competitor at the Ironman race at Riverfront Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Emmanuel Lopez (left), Zane Moore (center) and Ian Hildebrandt smile after completing the Ironman 70.3 Oregon race on Sunday, June 20, 2025. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)An Ironman competitor exits the Willamette River after a 1.2-mile swim on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Alina Hanschke celebrates after finishing in second in women’s competition at the Ironman race at Riverfront Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Ironman competitors run towards their bikes at Riverfront Park after exiting the water on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)About 2,500 Ironman race competitors begin to walk across the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge at 5:45 am towards the Willamette River on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)An athlete strips off his wetsuit during the Ironman 70.3 Oregon race on Sunday, June 20, 2025. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Marley Beckett, Ironman race winner in women’s competition, crosses the finish line at Riverfront Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Ironman competitors swim in the Willamette River towards shore on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Tyler Bellnap leaves Ironman Village with his daughter Maeve, 2, after the Ironman 70.3 Oregon race on Sunday, June 20, 2025. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Fans cheer for Ironman race competitors as they run onto the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge at Riverfront Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Racers run across the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge during the Ironman 70.3 Oregon race on Sunday, June 20, 2025. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)A volunteer hugs an athlete after her race on Sunday, June 20, 2025. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)An Ironman competitor gets assistance from volunteers after exiting the Willamette River after a 1.2-mile swim on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Racers head towards the bike course during the Ironman 70.3 Oregonrace on Sunday, June 20, 2025. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Soren Gerber, 12, places a medal on his dad, Jeremy Gerber after completing the Ironman 70.3 Oregon race on Sunday, June 20, 2025. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)An Ironman race competitor begins their bike ride portion on Front Street on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
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Hailey Cook joined Salem Reporter in 2025, following the completion of an internship through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. She works as a reporter and photojournalist, with a focus on business and entertainment, among other topics.
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.
