Ribeiro, Monforte Win 2011 Ultraman World Championships

The Ultraman World Championships took place on the big island of Hawaii November 25 to 27.

The event, held since 1983, covers 320 miles over three days, breaking down like this:

Day 1: Ocean swim 10K, bike 90 miles
Day 2: Bike 171 miles
Day 3: Run 52.4 miles

Thirty-eight people came to test themselves against the Ultraman course, and just 10 of them were women. Among those competitors were defending women’s champion and course record-holder, Amber Monforte, 33, two-time UM world champion, Jonas Colting, 38, and four-time UM world champion, Alexandre Ribeiro, 46.

After Day 1, almost 40 minutes separated Colting and Ribeiro, while Monforte opened up a commanding lead of over an hour on her nearest competitor.

At the end of Day 2, Colting was in the lead, but only by seven minutes to rookie, Michael Coughlin, and 15 minutes to Ribeiro. That’s right, after 267.6 miles of racing, the top three men were all within 15 minutes of each other. The men’s world champion title came down to who could run the fastest double marathon on Day 3.  As for the women, Monforte gained another hour on nearest competitor, Alice Robb, giving her a two hour, 24 minute lead going into the double marathon.

And so it all came down to the double marathon. Just 10K into the run, Colting dropped out with a leg injury, leaving the title wide open to the best runner.

Ribeiro reigned supreme, completing the 52.4-mile course in a blistering 6:30:39, for a total time of 22:09:54 and his fifth Ultraman World Champion title. Coughlin came in 17 minutes behind on the run to finish the event in a total time of 22:19:08. Forty-nine year old Miro Kregar rounded out the podium with a time of 23:33:11.

And on the women’s side, Monforte reclaimed her title, finishing the double marathon in 7:50:27 to win the women’s race, and place sixth overall with a total time of 24:42:02. Vanuza Maciel came in second, with a total time of 28:30:32. Consuela Lively was third in 29:35:25.

For more information about Ultraman Hawaii, and results, go here.