KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - Craig Alexander ran away with the Ironman World Championship on Saturday, setting a course record to win the event for the third time.

The 38-year-old Australian, also the 2008 and 2009 winner, finished in 8 hours, 3 minutes, 56 seconds in the 140.6-mile race that includes a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike ride through lava fields and marathon run in and around Kona village.

"I wish I could tell you how it feels," said Alexander, who won Ironman Coeur d'Alene in June. "It's unbelievable I wish everyone in the world could feel what I felt in the that mile. It's the finish I've been dreaming of."

Alexander leapt across the finish line, collapsed flat on his back and received hugs from his family. He admitted he has been suffering from cramps during the final miles of the run.

The previous course record was 8:04:08 by Belguim's Luc Van Lierde in 1996.

Ironman rookie Pete Jacobs, also from Australia, was second in 8:09:11. Germany's Andreas Raelert was third in 8:11:07.

In the women's division, Britain's Chrissie Wellington hung on for her fourth world title, finishing in 8:55:08. The 34-year-old Wellington ran the last 100 yards trailing a huge Union Jack and burst into tears as she broke the tape. Her parents were there to greet her with hugs.

Wellington was pushed during the last several miles by 2010 champion Mirinda Carfrae of Australia. Wellington was still at the finish line when Carfrae breezed in at 8:57:57.

Local watch

Derek Garcia, a 27-year old fitness consultant from Post Falls, finished the Ironman World Championship 182nd overall out of 1,918 competitors in 9 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds.

Garcia finished the 2.4-mile swim in 59 minutes, 27 seconds, the 112-mile bike portion in 4:51:13 and the 26.2-mile run in 3:34:22.