Matthew Marquardt, 27, and Jackie Hering, 40, crowned winners of the Cairns Ironman

Two American athletes were crowned the winners of the Cairns Ironman on Sunday — the first and second time a male and female have won the event from outside of Oceania.

Two American athletes were crowned the winners of the Cairns Ironman on Sunday — the first and second time a male and female have won the event from outside of Oceania.

Matthew Marquardt, 27, and Jackie Hering, 40, crossed the finish line in seven hours and 50 minutes, and eight hours and 42 minutes, respectively.

Marquardt, a medical student from Ohio, only signed up to the Cairns event four weeks ago, and is the first male athlete not from Oceania to take out the race.

It is also his first time to Australia and his first Ironman win.

“I don’t even know what to say. It’s incredibly meaningful and it’s definitely a memory that I’ll keep forever,” Marquardt said.

“It was a really, really hard day, lots of ups and downs. But you know Ironman is about not giving up, so that’s what I tried to do.

Matthew Marquardt crosses the finish line to win the Cairns Ironman. Picture: Brendan Radke

Marquardt celebrates with runner up Nick Thompson and third place Henrik Goesch. Picture: Brendan Radke

“You never know when you’re going to have another win and so I really wanted to try and cherish it as much as I could.”

Second place went to Australian Nick Thompson while Finland’s Henrik Goesch placed third.

Marquardt raved about the Cairns course and atmosphere, saying it helped him get through the gruelling race.

“Cairns has been incredible overall, I can’t say enough good things about the hospitality that I’ve been given here and it’s an incredibly beautiful setting,” he said.

“The bike course is stunning – I generally don’t remember much of the bike course but I certainly will remember this one because it’s just miles and miles of coastline … it made the pain a little less painful.

“And then the run course is just phenomenal, there’s so much energy. I love the four loops because you just get so much cheering and it just makes for a really incredible experience as an athlete.”

Jackie Hering, from Wisconsin, is the second female champion to win the race who is not from Oceania.

Second place went to New Zealand’s Hannah Berry, the 2024 Cairns Ironman champion, and third place to Lotte Wilms, a Queensland-based Dutch athlete who came second at the 2024 event.

Ms Hering being cheered on as she crossed the finish line. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Hering celebrating with Hannah Berry and Lotte Wilms, who placed second and third respectively. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Hannah and Lotte are actually some of the toughest girls in Ironman, they don’t quit and they don’t slow down, so it wasn’t until I was coming back on the very last lap that I said okay, I’m going to make it,” Hering said.

Hering is also visiting Australia for the first time, and loved the energy and setting of the Cairns Ironman.

“That bike ride is one the most beautiful rides I have ever done. It was so special, I just loved it and the crowd support on the run was also incredible,” Hering said.

In Australia for a total of seven days, Hering said she was making the most of her time here, including a swim to Green Island and a helicopter ride.

“As an older athlete I think it’s important to mix enjoyment with racing and get to see some of the places you race,” she said.

“I think I’ve maximised every moment I’ve been here, and just because I’m enjoying Cairns I had a feeling (the race) was going to go well.”

Spectators lined the streets of Cairns city to cheer on the nearly 3000 competitors at the Ironman on Sunday.

One group of spectators were in matching t-shirts supporting competitor Regan Gee, a 46-year-old from Mount Maunganui in New Zealand.

Shane Gee, Janine Downes, Nancy Lowe, Lynette Butler, Ariana Martin and Kaia Gee wore custom, matching shirts to cheer on Regan Gee. Picture: Brendan Radke

It was Mr Gee’s second Cairns Ironman and third overall, and his support crew included his Cairns-based brother and his partner, mum and two sisters who travelled from New Zealand to cheer him on.

His family’s matching shirts were complete with pictures of Mr Gee and cartoon prawns, which partner Janine Downes said were in honour of Cairns restaurant Prawn Star, where they celebrated post-race in 2024.

Sunday Run Club members Chris Roberts, Emma Roberts, Victoria Schubert, Lizzy Hay, Stu Fordyce, Jaidan Gattin, Nathan Price, Jennifer Evans, and Morgan Bignell brought a smile to the face of athletes on the run leg of the Ironman Cairns 70.3 race. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns woman Lizzy Hay completed the bike leg of the Ironman 70.3 race in a team called the Orange Squeezes.

“It was really, really hard, but there was great support at the end,” Ms Hay said, referring to her group of friends who were set up along the Esplanade cheering her on.

One of the friends, Emma Roberts, said the group had more than 10 friends competing in the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events.

She said some of the group had been there since 8.30am and would stay until their final friend finished — just after 7pm.

Originally published as Matthew Marquardt, 27, and Jackie Hering, 40, crowned winners of the Cairns Ironman