American Jackie Hering has secured a stunning victory at the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Dallas–Little Elm, overcoming a significant mid-race setback to dominate the women’s elite field.
Hering’s performance was a masterclass in resilience after she was hit with a two-minute penalty during the bike leg. Despite the time loss, she maintained her composure to surge back into the lead, ultimately claiming an emphatic win to open her 2026 campaign in style. Her victory sets a high bar for the remainder of the season as the Ironman circuit expands its reach into North Texas.
Bermudian triathlete Erica Hawley was also in the thick of the action, testing herself against a high-caliber field of nineteen elite professionals. In what proved to be a grueling day across the Little Elm course, Hawley secured an 11th-place finish, crossing the line with a total time of 4:07:55.
Hawley’s day began with a rapid swim in the waters of Lewisville Lake. Competing in the single-loop format, she showed her strength in the water by completing the opening segment in just three minutes and 17 seconds. The quick transition allowed her to find her rhythm early as the race moved onto the tarmac.
The Bermudian then faced the 56.1-mile bike course, a technical route that demanded both power and tactical pacing. Hawley maintained a steady effort throughout the cycling leg, clocking a time of two hours and 14 minutes. The performance kept her in contention within the middle of the pack as the temperature began to rise on the Texas plains.
Closing out the event, Hawley transitioned to the final 13.1-mile run. She showed great character in the concluding half-marathon, posting a run time of one hour, 26 minutes, and 32 seconds to solidify her position in the top twelve. While she finished outside of the podium places, the experience provides a solid foundation as she continues to build toward the major regional championships later this summer.
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