Christa Hazel provides this panoramic view of the start of the race.

Viktor Zyemtsev, pictured at finish line, insists he’s not getting better with age, but his results suggest otherwise. The 39-year-old from Ukraine on Sunday became the first three-time Ironman Coeur d’Alene professional men’s champion, covering 140.6 miles of swimming, biking and running in 8 hours, 32 minutes and 29 seconds. That’s slightly faster than his winning time in 2007 and nine minutes slower than his 2005 time. “No, no,” responded Zyemtsev, when asked if he’s improving as the years go by. “Training less, not (as many) intervals, more recovery (time), a lot of suffering when training … but the experience I get from 10 years racing in Ironman is important.” In the women’s pro race, Meredith Kessler won for the first time in six tries in Coeur d’Alene, timing 9:21.44. Kessler, a 33-year-old who lives in San Francisco, has won three events this season. Spokane’s Haley Cooper-Scott took second place, battling through a rugged swim and more struggles in the 26.2-mile run for her highest placing in Coeur d’Alene/Jim Meehan, SR. More here. (Bruce Twitchell's special photo to the SR)