‘It’s been a journey’: Ironman triathlon racer wins after years of hardship kept her from competing
The Ironman triathlon first-place female finisher returned to the competition after husband’s cancer diagnosis kept her from the race.
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - The female first-place finisher for Waco’s fifth Ironman 70.3 triathlon returned to the race for the first time since 2019 following her husband’s cancer diagnosis and the pandemic.
Andrea Nuñez-Smith said she worked hard to return to the Ironman 70.3 competition. Nuñez-Smith was the first woman to break the tape at Sunday’s race.
“It was a pretty emotional finish with all that going through my mind and getting to be here today,” Nuñez-Smith said.
When she crossed the line, she said her thoughts dwelled on her husband.
“I just wanted to find my husband and give him a hug and celebrate that moment with him just cause it’s been such a journey,” Nuñez-Smith.
Nuñez-Smith’s husband had been diagnosed with cancer in 2020. As a result she did not sign up for the Ironman 70.3 competition in Waco until 2024.
Nuñez-Smith said she’s not taking her accomplishment for granted.
“You don’t get these moments very often in life,” Nuñez-Smith said. “So you really wanna take them in when you get them and celebrate with the people that you love.”
Sunday was Waco’s fifth Ironman 70.3 competition. The race went on hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19.
The triathlon consists of swimming, cycling and running.
NVDM Coach, Katie Messerall, said the Ironman 70.3 race is a learning experience for her Central Texas athletes.
“There are times they’re coming to me and they’re like ‘I had the worst training session.’ and then the next time they’re like ‘I had the best training session.’ and then when it all comes together on race day and they cross that finish line and there’s a smile on their face it’s just more opportunity to learn and grow for the next race,” Messerall said.
Nuñez-Smith said she plans to compete again in 2025.
“People are always cursing the race during then after they go sign up for another one,” Nuñez-Smith. “So you can definitely get roped into keep doing them.”
The Ironman 70.3 competition plans to return in 2025.
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