Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com Contributing Editor

Kona’s own professional triathlete Bree Wee was the seventh woman across the finish line at the St. Croix Ironman 70.3 on Sunday in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Wee had a total time of 4 hours, 46 minutes and 24 seconds. Her bike time was third overall for the women.

Her splits:

Swim (1.2 miles) – 1:28, 6th 

Bike (56 miles) – 2:41:46, 3rd

Run (13.1 miles) – 1:36:37, 7th

The St. Croix race was a highlight for Wee last year, when she was the third woman overall.

Ironman 70.3 St. Croix is dubbed one of the toughest triathlons on the circuit. Heat, humidity, winds and the infamous “Beast” – the famous hill climb – impact the athletes.

The race featured about 800 athletes, many competing for one of 28 qualifying slots to the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, or one of 40 slots to the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Fla.

Bree moved to Kona in January 2003 to teach at Kahakai Elementary School.

She was more into surfing than running, but that changed in December 2003 when she ran her first marathon and got hooked. Running led to triathlon.

Her first triathlon was in September 2003 just for fun, a little sprint triathlon on Oahu. That little race lead her to the Lavaman Triathlon in 2004 and eventually the 2007 Ironman World Championships, where she set the amateur course record and earned her pro card.

— Find out more:

St. Croix 70.3 Triathlon: www.stcroixtriathlon.com/home

Bree Wee: http://breeweehawaii.blogspot.com