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Reno, Nevada's Amber Monforte broke Tina Bischoff's 21-year-old Ultraman women's race record by 1 hour 38 minutes and 40 seconds with a sizzling 24:07:11 finish. Ironman winner and Ultraman rookie Hillary Biscay set a swim record, fought the pain, finished in 24:40:28 and held off six-time champion Shanna Armstrong by 3 minutes 29 seconds to take the runner-up spot. Biscay's 24:40:28 finish left her 37:17 behind Monforte, but 1:05:23 ahead of Bischoff's Ultraman Hawaii record. Armstrong's 24:43:57 finish smashed her Ultraman Hawaii personal best by 65 minutes and topped Bischoff's mark by 1:01:54. Although she trailed Monforte by 1:28:12, Marin, California's Kathy Winkler's 25:35:23 4th place finish after a 7:53:07 run also topped Bischoff's 1989 race mark by 10:28.

Mike LeRoux of Cairns Australia emerged from crocodile swimming country to take down two-time Ultraman champion Jonas Colting, who was suffering from a pulmonary infection, who had to settle fort a courageous second place. Ultraman rookie Slater Fletcher was thrilled with his third place finish exactly two minutes back of Colting. And four-time champion Alexandre Ribeiro of Brazil endured three days of constant vomiting to place second on the final day run in under 7 hours - and take 4th place overall.

All photos © Timothy Carlson