IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta cancelled due to storm damage
The IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta triathlon scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29 has been cancelled. In a statement, organizers said that while original projections indicated the race would be able to proceed…
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA : Medals are displayed at the finish line of the IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta on September 24, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.
Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images for IRONMANThe IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta triathlon scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29 has been cancelled.
In a statement, organizers said that while original projections indicated the race would be able to proceed as planned, the impact Hurricane Helene had on the racecourse and facilities, as well as infrastructure in and around Augusta, required cancellation.
“As things worsened overnight, it became very clear that this was the only decision that could be made in the interest of the safety of our athletes, volunteers, staff, and the well-being of the Augusta community,” organizers said in an official statement.
Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc on Augusta area
The storm, which hit Augusta early Friday morning, was measured as a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall Thursday along Florida’s Big Bend coast. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm. In Augusta, sustained winds were measured at 40 mph with gusts reaching 80 mph.
Across the area, downed trees and power lines have closed roads, left approximately 243,000 homes and businesses without power, and caused extensive property damage. There have been 11 deaths related to the storm reported locally.
