Defending champions highlight Ironman field
| • | Imonen mended, back in Ironman Triathlon |
Associated Press
Most of the world's top triathletes are set to compete tomorrow in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
A total of 1,520 triathletes are registered for the race, and officials have received only five cancellations directly related to the events of Sept. 11. Also included are several military personnel who were deployed and a New York City firefighter who competed last year and was planning to return this year.
The race features a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bicycle ride and 26.2-mile run.
Included in the field are defending champions Peter Reid of Canada and Natascha Badmann of Switzerland.
Among the male competitors considered to have a good chance of winning are Tim DeBoom, of Lyons, Colo., second last year and the winner of this year's Ironman California race; Normann Stadler of Germany, and Steve Larsen of Davis, Calif., who won the Half Vineman Triathlon and has made a strong transition from shorter-distance races to the full Ironman distance.
One of the top women is expected to be Lori Bowden of Canada, who won Ironman races in Austria and Australia this year.
