BOISE - In the end, 70.3 miles of swimming, biking and running came down to flat-out sprint.

World Ironman champion Craig Alexander overtook 2008 runner-up Chris Lieto in the final stretch of the 13.1 run to take 1st place and the $25,000 prize.

Lieto, just like 2008, came to the second transition point in first place. And, just like 2008, was overtaken on the run portion of the race - although this time much closer to the finish line.

"In all my years of doing half-ironmans, I've never had a race come down that close," Alexander told CBS 2.

It was his first trip to Boise, and the Australian native who now lives in Boulder, Colorado says he'll be back to compete in 2009 - and will make it a family vacation.

"I'd love to come back and bring my wife and two kids. It's a really nice town, I've had a great time here. The people are so friendly," Alexander said.

Kevin Everett was the top Idaho competitor, placing 13th. Everett led the way out of Lucky Peak Reservoir and held that lead for about the first half of the race. That's when the elite bikers in the race caught up to him.

"I was leading for quite a while and was riding with [Chris, 6th place] Levell and [Craig] Alexander until about mile 35 or 40, and that might have been a little faster than I needed to go, cause it caught up to me at the end of the ride," Everett said, adding that riding with some of the world's most elite triathlon bikers was, "very satisfying."

Everett also battled a flat tire for the last few miles of the bike portion - but was able to make it to the transition stage without the tire completely deflating. That was a lucky break - Everett wasn't carrying a spare tire.

This is the first year ever that a half-ironman race has started in the afternoon. Race officials said they liked the idea because of the unique opportunity to finish in downtown Boise in a 'street fair-like atmosphere.' And for the five to six hours athletes were crossing the finish line Saturday, the city of trees did not disappoint.

Boise is in the second year of a five-year contract with Ironman to host these races. The afternoon start time seemed very popular, and race officials seemed to hint that 2009 wouldn't be the last time the race started after the lunch hour in Boise - although, no official announcement has been made.

Top 5 Professional Finishers:

Men
1. Craig Alexander, 3:51:46
2. Chris Lieto, 3:51:48
3. Joe Gambles, 3:56:24
4. Ben Hoffman, 3:56:32
5. Justin Hurd, 3:57:29

Women
1. Magali Tisseyre, 4:12:29
2. Linsey Corbin, 4:20:58
3. Samantha McGlone, 4:25:10
4. Brooke Davison, 4:26:46
5. Melissa Vandewater, 4:32:34