Competitors pushed through heat that reached 29 C Sunday in the Ironman Canada-Ottawa triathlon.
Adding to the challenge was the fact that a Special Air Quality Statement was in effect for the National Capital Region due to smoke from wildfires.
Luke Evans, a Carleton University graduate, didn’t let any of that slow him down, as he crossed the finish line first in a time of eight hours 40 minutes 22 seconds.
Aliisa Heiskanen of Gatineau was the first female to finish the Ironman in 9:32:46.
More than 2,500 participants took on the gruelling course, which featured a swim in the Ottawa River, a bike ride through urban and rural scenery, and a run through downtown that ended close to Major’s Hill Park.
— With files from Ashley Fraser
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