 The Thai Airways Laguna Phuket Triathlon defending champion Craig Alexander
is confirmed to race at the event again this year on Sunday 4 December.
Alexander, from Australia, will be coming off recent wins at the US$500,000
Life Time Fitness Triathlon in Minneapolis and the 5430 Long Course
Triathlon in Boulder, Colorado where, with an eight-minute lead, he managed
to stop and kiss his baby daughter Lucy, and then carry her across the
finish line. Alexander is hoping for his third win at Laguna Phuket having
taken home the title in 2004 and 2002.
Another two-time Laguna Phuket Triathlon champion, Canadian, Carol
Montgomery will also be back competing against several newcomers to the
event including husband and wife duo Laura and Greg Bennett, fellow Canadian
Samantha McGlone and young Kiwi sensation Terenzo Bozzone. American, Laura
Bennett will be fresh from her recent third place finish at the World
Triathlon Championships in Gamagori, Japan, while the youngsters McGlone and
Bozzone are expected to give the more seasoned pros a run for their money.
Absent from this year’s line up is the women’s defending champion
Australian Nicole Hackett, who regretfully had to withdraw after recently
being diagnosed with Ross River Virus. The virus, which affects energy
levels of those infected, caused Hackett’s early withdrawal from this year’s
World Triathlon Championships. Rest and relaxation are Hackett’s main
priorities right now as she has been advised not to resume training until
she is fully recovered. Hackett hopes to return to Phuket in 2006 to defend
her title then.
The event route and program will be similar to 2004 with the
1.8-kilometre swim leg starting at the
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket beach
front and ending near Laguna Beach Resort. The 55-kilometre bike course and
12-kilometre run section will also start and finish near
Laguna Beach
Resort. This arrangement allows all spectators to remain in one convenient
location where they can enjoy the entire event.
Now in its twelfth year, this year’s Laguna Phuket Triathlon race will
feature a pro prize purse of US$ 20,000 awarded to the top five male and
female professional athletes. Twenty-five top age group athletes will
receive qualifying slots into the 2006 Ironman Australia.
Registration for the event, which in the past has boasted some 600
athletes from 30 countries, is ahead of schedule and race organisers expect
an increase in competitor numbers this year.
|
