More than 2,300 of the world’s top athletes will unite in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 8 for the most iconic one-day endurance event in the world - the 2016 IRONMAN® World Championship. IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holding company, has produced this world class event since 1978.
The largest international athlete field in this race’s history will toe the line for the 38th year of the annual IRONMAN World Championship triathlon, representing 64 countries and territories on six continents. Athletes ranging in age from 19 to 83 have earned their championship opportunity by having finished among the best at one of more than 40 qualifying IRONMAN events worldwide. 30 percent of participants (718 athletes) are female, which also marks the largest female field in history at the IRONMAN World Championship.
Australia leads the international contingent with the second-most athletes competing (230), followed by Germany (195), Canada (137), Great Britain (124) and France (119). Other athletes from countries as far as Turkey, Slovenia, Iceland and Denmark are traveling around the globe for their shot at the title. The United States leads the way with 804 competitors, accounting for just over 33 percent of registrants this year.
“The inspiration that is generated by not only our amazing professional athletes but also our age-groupers, shows why the IRONMAN World Championship continues to be the pinnacle event of the endurance world,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN. “Over 2,300 of the world’s best athletes have traveled to this prestigious island to showcase their unwavering strength, passion and commitment while proving that truly ‘ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.’”
The competitive fields should provide for an exciting race with IRONMAN World Champions Jan Frodeno of Germany and Daniela Ryf of Switzerland returning to defend their titles. The men’s competition is packed with a strong veteran group that includes former IRONMAN 70.3® and IRONMAN World Champions. Sebastian Kienle (DEU), coming off a narrow second-place finish at the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, will provide Frodeno with a strong challenge alongside Brent McMahon (CAN), Tim O’Donnell (USA) Andy Potts (AUS) and Timothy Van Berkel (AUS). On the women’s side, Mirinda “Rinny” Carfrae (AUS) is back for redemption following last year’s injury-plagued race which forced her to withdraw. Meanwhile, both Ryf and Carfrae will be challenged by last year’s top American finisher Heather Jackson, as well as Mel Hauschildt (AUS), Julia Gajer (DEU) and relative newcomer Kaisa Lehtonen (FIN) all of whom have IRONMAN titles to their names.
The 2016 field of athletes will tackle a 3.8km mass swim start in Kailua Bay, followed by a 180km bike along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway from Kailua-Kona to the turnaround in Hawi, exposing intense trade winds that buffet much of the western and northern coast of the Big Island. Athletes then take on a 42.2lkm run beginning on Ali’i Drive, where spectators pack the roads, up Palani Road to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway before making their way to the Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority (NELHA). Athletes will complete their journey to the roar of tens of thousands of spectators as they cross the historic Ali’i Drive finish line.
Good luck to our Queensland Athletes racing in KONA!
MEN
PRO: David Dellow – Red Dog Triathlon Training
PRO: Luke McKenzie- Noosa Tri Club
25-29: Jarrod Harvey – T:Zero Multisport
30-34: Brett Weick – Southport Triathlon Club
30-34: Guy Constant – Red Dog Triathlon Training
30-34: Richard Thompson – T:Zero Multisport
30-34: Sean Richardson – Atlas Multisports
35-39: Nathan Sandford – Cairns Crocs Triathlon Club
40-44: Andrew Hartnett – Noosa Tri Club
40-44: Brett Jenkins – Red Dog Triathlon Training
40-44: Damien Jeffery – Brisbane Triathlon Club
40-44: Ian Edwards – Red Dog Triathlon Training
40-44: Jason Cheshire – Noosa Tri Club
40-44: Nathan Fitzakerley – Atlas Multisports
45-49: Andrew Roberts – Redcliffe Triathlon Club
45-59: Craig McGuigan – East Coast Cycos Triathlon Club
45-49: Damien Coad – Azure TNQ
45-49: Mark Gleeson Tri Nation
45-49: Paul Worroll – Noosa Tri Club
45-49: Samuel Cooke – Atlas Multisports
45-49: Tony Clark – Vipers Triathlon Club
50-54: Craig Sweeney – Southport Triathlon Club
55-59: John Crossland – Frenchville Frogs
55-59: Malcolm Miller – Sheldon Triathlon Club
55-59: Perry Nation – Brisbane Triathlon Club
60-64: Peter Sullivan – Toowoomba Triathlon Club
60-64: Tomas Valena – Mackay Triathlon Club
65-69: Allan Pitman – East Coast Cycos Triathlon Club
65-69: Jon Howse – East Coast Cycos Triathlon Club
WOMEN
PRO: Annabel Luxford – Surfers Paradise Triathlon Club
PRO: Carrie Lester – Sunshine Coast Tri Academy
PRO: Melissa Hauschildt – Club Croc
PRO: Mirinda Carfrae
PRO: Sarah Crowley – Red Dog Triathlon Training
18-24: Kierra Sansome – Sunshine Coast Triathlon Club
25-29: Steph Barrett – Red Dog Triathlon Training
30-34: Alison Maher – East Coast Cycos Triathlon Club
30-34: Laura Whenmouth
30-34: Sian Reece – Bayside Multisport
30-34: Stella Foley – Tri Nation
35-39: Jo-Lene Crank – Club Croc
40-44: Jodie Browning – Central Highlands Triathlon Club
40-44: Julia-Ann Dillon – Mavericks Coaching Alliance
40-44: Rosie McGeoch – Red Dog Triathlon Training
45-49: Heidi Sowerby – Red Dog Triathlon Training
45-49: Jane Crawford – Mavericks Coaching Alliance
45-49: Susan Crowe – Cairns Crocs Triathlon Club
50-54: Angela Clarke – Vipers Triathlon Club
50-54: Chrissie Bowie – South Bank Triathlon Club
50-54: Karen Tavener – T:Zero Multisport
50-54: Kerry Ireland – Tri Nation
55-59: Janet McAfee – East Coast Cycos Triathlon Club
60-64: Karen McPherson – Cairns Crocs Triathlon Club
The 2016 IRONMAN World Championship can be viewed live on www.ironman.com Comprehensive coverage will capture every aspect of the race and feature a hosted show, athlete tracker and live blog.
