IRONMAN 70.3 COEUR d'ALENE: Hoffman's day to have a day ... Santa Cruz native catches up in bike, breezes to men's title

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Sometimes, it just happens.

Everything clicks, you can’t miss and it just rolls your way.

Sunday was George Hoffman’s day at Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene.

Hoffman, a native of Santa Cruz, Calif., won the men’s title in 4 hours, 2 minutes and 10 seconds, a little over 9 minutes faster than the next finisher.

“It was my first time here, and it was fantastic,” Hoffman said. “The crowd support was awesome and unreal, which matters a lot. The bike course was beautiful and well organized. What a great course to have a good day on.”

Hoffman was 15th after the 1.2-mile swim in 29 minutes, 16 seconds, then took the lead on the 56-mile bike ride after finishing in 2 hours, 45 minutes and two seconds and completing the 13.1-mile run in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 37 seconds.

“Sometimes, you just have a good day,” Hoffman said. “I’ll take some time and figure out just went right today. Usually you’re trying to figure out what went wrong. But trying to see what went right is very meaningful as well. It was just one of those days where I felt strong from start to finish.”

Karrie Stewart of Seattle, who won the female title here in 2024 and was runner-up in 2025, notched another win Sunday in 4 hours, 38 minutes and 54 seconds..

“You just show up and do your best,” Stewart said. “Today was a good day. The wind was a little more than what I expected, but it was a good race.”

Hoffman added that he was focused on the task at hand and was unaware of the distance he was putting the rest of the men’s field.

“I have a friend here, Becca, that was out at the turnaround (on the run),” Hoffman said. “She gave me my first split and told me that I had 5 minutes on second place, and at that point, I kind of knew that if I could maintain that pace, I could win. But you just never know. You just grit your teeth and put it out of your mind and hope you hold up until the finish.”

Hoffman also won the Victoria (British Columbia) 70.3 in 2025.

“It’s a great data point,” Hoffman said. “My coach and I will probably talk about what went right and bring that into Kona, which is the biggest stage.”

A total of 35 spots were available from Sunday's race for the World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, on Oct. 10.

Following the race, Hoffman found his wife, Kim, in the crowd and gave her a hug.

“I just want to spend some time with my wife and friends that are here,” Hoffman said. “At the end of the day, that’s what matters most. I’ll drink a couple of beers, hang out and go check out Coeur d’Alene. The city is so beautiful. Before the race, you’re so locked in that you don’t get to experience the surroundings.”

Nick Dorn, a graduate student at Stanford, was the men’s runner-up in 4 hours, 11 minutes and 31 seconds.

“George was on another level today,” Dorn said. “I’ve trained with him a little bit and we’re on the same team. The swim was amazing, but a little choppy. I came out of the water and biked up to the front, but George was cooking, so I just let him go.”

This year, the finish line was moved from Sherman Avenue into City Park.

“It’s absolutely excellent,” Dorn said. “The spectator support here was amazing. It was such a great time out there. It seemed the entire community came out to support it, which you really want to see.”

Stewart added that the atmosphere and location of the Coeur d’Alene keeps her coming back.

“This was my first race in 2019 and first full in 2021,” Stewart said. “I love the people here and love the course. It’s fun and I just love coming here.”

As for the new finish line, Stewart added she was prepared for it.

“I’d seen it beforehand,” Stewart said. “Grass isn’t as much fun to run in. But it was nice to run near the water. It’s not the typical Sherman that you have in your head.”

Stewart will compete next in an Ironman in Madison, Wis., in September.

TOP 10 MALE FINISHERS — 1, George Hoffman, Santa Cruz, Calif., 4 hours, 2 minutes, 10 seconds. 2, Nick Dorn, Palo Alto, Calif., 4 hours, 11 minutes, 31 seconds. 3, Matthew Quinn, Aptos, Calif., 4 hours, 12 minutes, 7 seconds. 4, James Adams, Spokane, 4 hours, 14 minutes, 17 seconds. 5, Colter Purcell, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 4 hours, 15 minutes, 58 seconds. 6, Klemens Anderson, Napa Valley, Calif., 4 hours, 15 minutes, 58 seconds. 7, Nolan Weinstein, Seattle, 4 hours, 16 minutes, 28 seconds. 8, Curtis Glanville, Melfort, Saskatchewan, 4 hours, 16 minutes, 36 seconds. 9, Eric Osband, New York City, 4 hours, 18 minutes, 42 seconds. 10, Elliot Kawaoka, Seattle, 4 hours, 20 minutes, 47 seconds.

TOP 10 FEMALE FINISHERS — 1, Karrie Stewart, Seattle, 4 hours, 38 minutes, 54 seconds. 2, Lexi Wright, Airdrie, Alberta, 4 hours, 43 minutes, 37 seconds. 3, Haley Thaning, Winter Park, Fla., 4 hours, 45 minutes, 37 seconds. 4, Aileen Pannecoucke, Pocatello, 4 hours, 51 minutes, 5 seconds. 5, Amelia Deady, Franklin, Mass., 4 hours, 52 minutes, 43 seconds. 6, Lauren Lipsey, Salt Lake City, 4 hours, 54 minutes, 21 seconds. 7, Hana Declerck, Napa Valley, Calif., 4 hours, 54 minutes, 31 seconds. 8, Petra Hartmanova, Indian Wells, Calif., 5 hours, 3 minutes and 56 seconds. 9, Michelle Erwin, Jackson Hole, Wyo., 5 hours, 4 minutes, 8 seconds. 10, Bethany Draeger, Davis, Calif., 5:04.21.

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Karrie Stewart of Seattle, Wash., was the top female finisher in Sunday's Ironman 70.3 Coeur d'Alene. Stewart, who won here in 2024, finished in 4 hours, 38 minutes and 54 seconds.