Busselton, Australia – A string of world class names are set to line up at SunSmart Ironman 70.3 Busselton on Saturday 2nd May 2015.
“The men’s field is the strongest we have ever had at SunSmart Ironman 70.3 Busselton and one of the largest in the Australia for the 2014/15 season” said Ashleigh Davis, Event Manager for Triathlon WA.
The field is ripe with previous winners of this event, Olympic Athletes, multiple Ironman champions and up and coming professional athletes. In total 40 professional athletes will toe the start line at Geogrpahe Bay on Saturday 2nd May.
Tim Van Berkel, the 2014 SunSmart Ironman 70.3 Busselton Champion will once again make the trip to WA from NSW. Van Berkel is in great form coming off a 2nd place at the Asia Pacific IRONMAN Championships in Melbourne in March this year.
A number of past podium place getters will return to the event including 2014 runner up Alex Reithmeier and 3rd place Sam Appleton. 2013 winner and dual Olympian Brad Kahlefeldt will also be toeing the start line in May.
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In addition to the above Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) and James Cunnama (ZAF) will be headed to Busselton for the first time. Auckland-based Bozzone has won 37 international titles, which includes 23 Ironman 70.3 or half-Ironman distance triathlon titles, including the 2015 Challenge Dubai half event which puts him in the hunt for the lucrative Triple Crown and the chance to win $1 million. Cunnama was the winner of Challenge Roth in 2012 along with multiple Ironman and Ironman 70.3 wins during his career as a professional athlete.
When asked about the Pro field for the 2015 Miss Davis said, “It’s one of the strongest I have seen in Busselton. This demonstrates that SunSmart Ironman 70.3 Busselton is one of Australia’s show case races”.
In the women’s field, WA local and crowd favourite, Kate Bevilaqua, will be back to defend the title she won in 2014. “I love this race and get excited about it every year” Said Kate. “Nothing beats racing at home and the incredible local support”.
Also joining Bevilaqua will be 2013 champion Liz Blatchford. Since moving to IRONMAN racing Blatchford has finished on the podium in most of her races. She is coming off a 3rd place at IRONMAN WA held in Busselton in December 2014.
12x IRONMAN champion Gina Crawford (NZL) has placed 1st at Challenge Wanaka and Tauranga Half this year along with 2nd place at Ironman New Zealand and Ironman 70.3 Auckland.
Hot on their toes are the new generation of professionals including 3rd place at the 2014 event Katy Duffield (AUS) , Renee Baker (AUS), Polly Mosley (AUS) and Kate Pedley.
There is no doubt that the hotly contested field will put on quite a show for the City of Busselton.
The community and participants of the SunSmart IRONMAN 70.3 Busselton event have many chances to meet the professional athletes during the festival. These opportunities include;
- Chat with the Pros – Friday 1st May, Barnard Park Busselton
- Pro Athlete Press Conference – Friday 1st May, Goose Café Busselton
- SunSmart Kids Triathlon – Sunday 3rd May, Barnard Park Busselton.
The event will attract more than 1700 individuals and 400 teams, totalling more than 3000 competitors participating at the event. Along with this over 17,000 spectators will line the foreshore of Busselton to cheer on the athletes over the 1.9km swim, 90.1km bike and 21.1km run course. Busselton has been the home of this event since 2002 and has continued to grow from year to year.
Information on the SunSmart Busselton Festival of Triathlon can be found at www.busseltonfestivaloftriathlon.com.au
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