WAIKOLOA, Hawaii: 1,500 triathletes took the the water at the 15th annual Waikoloa Lavaman on Sunday morning, here in the scenic early morning light at Anaehoomalu Bay.

The Olympic-distance triathlon began with a 0.9-mile swim, followed by a 24-mile bike ride south along Queen Kaahumanu Highway and a 6.2-mile run on the Waikoloa Beach Resort grounds.

Deja vu at the finish line:

Two-time Ironman world champion Chris McCormack added a third Lavaman title to his resume.

The Australian shook off his closest rival in the swim and never looked back, cruising the bike and run legs in isolation.

According to Hawaii247 editor Karin Stanton, McCormack already owns the course record of 1 hour, 49 minutes, 24 seconds.

McCormack, who turns 39 this week, said he will race in two weeks in Sydney in an attempt to land the third and final spot on the Olympic triathlon squad.

In the women’s division, hometown favorite Bree Wee, was out to set the record this year.

Wee earned her fifth Lavaman crown on Sunday. She missed the women’s course record by 1 minute last year.

Once the official results are in, it looks likely Wee’s name will be engraved in the record books.

And if you are wondering about the mayor…

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi impressed his island constituents by quietly entering and finishing the Lavaman race… But not this year. although he had entered the race, the mayor just returned from a different type of exhausting journey – a visit to the Philippines, on a tour of the country’s geothermal industry. Maybe next year…

(VIDEO by Baron Sekiya, Hawaii 247.com | VOICE of Stephanie Salazar)