TEMPE, Ariz.-Germany’s Faris Al-Sultan and Australia’s Kate Major won the men’s and women’s titles respectively at the inaugural Ironman Arizona Triathlon held on Saturday in Tempe.

Windy conditions dominated throughout the day, but temperatures remained mild throughout the day for the event, the first-ever Ironman held in the state of Arizona and one of only five Ironman events in continental North America.

Al-Sultan won the first Ironman of his career by taking the men’s title at the Tempe race, posting an overall time of eight hours, 25 minutes and 42 seconds. The German standout, who finished third overall at the 2004 Ironman World Championship, pulled away for the field at the end of the bike and then posted a strong run to win by almost 17 minutes.
     
Michael Lovato (Boulder, Colo.), the 2003 Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene champion, finished second overall with a time of 8:42:48 with Sergio Marques (Portugal) third in 8:46:47. Petr Vabrousek (Czech Republic) finished fourth in 8:49:46 and Canada’s Jasper Blake was fifth in 8:50:54.
     
Major gutted out a tough battle on the run with second-place finisher Desiree Ficker (Austin, Texas) to earn the second Ironman victory of her career. The Australian standout, who also won the 2004 Ironman USA Lake Placid Triathlon, posted an overall time of 9:44:26.

Ficker was second in 9:48:26, with Ute Mueckel (Germany) third in 9:51:43, Tamara Kozulina (Ukraine) fourth in 9:58:46 and Lisabeth Kristensen (Switzerland) fifth in 10:05:17.
     
The inaugural event featured 1,830 athletes from 25 countries, competing for 80 qualifying spots to the 2005 Ironman World Championship held annually in Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $75,000 pro prize purse.
     
For more information on Ironman Arizona, log onto www.ironmanarizona.com
     

Ironman Arizona Triathlon
Saturday, April 9, 2005
Results

Men
1.     Faris Al-Sultan, Germany, 8:25:42
2.     Michael Lovato, Boulder, Colo., 8:42:48
3.     Sergio Marques, Portugal, 8:46:47
4.     Petr Vabrousek, Czech Republic, 8:49:46
5.     Jasper Blake, Canada, 8:50:54
6.     Tom Evans, Canada, 8:56:23
7.     Uzziel Valderrabano, Mexico, 8:59:21
8.     Christophe Bastie, France, 9:04:33
9.     Luke Dragstra, Cardiff, Calif., 9:06:35
10.     Hubert Hammerl, Germany, 9:12:37

Women
1.     Kate Major, Australia, 9:44:02
2.     Desiree Ficker, Austin, Texas, 9:48:26
3.     Ute Mueckel, Germany, 9:51:43
4.     Tamara Kozulina, Ukraine, 9:58:46
5.     Lisabeth Kristensen, Switzerland, 10:05:17
6.     Heather Gollnick, Hartford, Wisc., 10:14:57
7.     Hillary Biscay, Manhattan, Calif., 10:15:40
8.     Tara Norton, Canada, 10:19:56
9.     Michelle Gwozdo, Carlsbad, Calif. 10:20:47
10.     Karen Holloway, Richmond, Va., 10:21:29