The start list features the best of the Australians, with the current World Cup
leader Loretta Harrop headlining the women’s team along with Nicole Hackett, the
2000 World Champion and Pip Taylor who has more than one World Cup podium to her
credit. On the men’s side it is a veritable Aussie powerhouse led by 2003 World
Champion Peter Robertson, 4th place Olympian Greg Bennett and Simon Thompson who
won the last stop on the World Cup circuit in Mooloolaba, Australia.
The team from the USA is led by Hunter Kemper, the current World Cup leader with
a win in Mazatlan and 2nd place in the season’s opener in Honolulu. Kemper will
be supported in the swim and bike by teammates Seth Wealing and Andy Potts.
The British team is led by Tim Don, who won the World Cup in Honolulu earlier
in the season, along with veteran Olympian Andrew Johns and 3rd place in the 2004
World Cup standing, Stuart Hayes. The women’s team is led by Michelle Dillon who
was 2nd at this event in 2004, as well as Kerry Lang from Scotland who came out
of nowhere in Mazatlan to post an impressive top 10 finish.
The largest team of all is the Japanese who boast one of the best women’s teams
in the world led by Kiyomi Niwata, who on any given day can be a threat for a
podium spot, as well as their other Olympic team members Machiko Nakanishi and
Akiko Sekine. The men’s team will undoubtedly see Hiroyuki Nishiuchi exit the
swim-bike section first and could very well hold on for a strong finish.
The team from the People’s Republic of China is the largest ever to begin a World
Cup event, with Olympian Dan Wang leading the women and Jing Huang and Sheng Yang
leading the men.
The event features a 2 lap swim in the Ishigaki port, followed by a 6 lap bike
up and over the Southern Gate Bridge, then a 3 lap run through the streets of
the city. If past years is an indicator, an estimated 40,000 spectators are expected
to line the course to cheer on their triathlon heroes.
Ishigaki is fast becoming a favourite tourist destination for Japan and Asia,
and the support that the citizens of the town provide for the World Cup event
is dramatic. The mayor of Ishigaki, Dr. Ohama has attached a slogan to this year’s
event, “Go For World Peace”, which has been embraced by ITU and the
capable organizers from the Japanese Triathlon Union.
Triathlon.org will be covering the event online with live results, photos, text
updates and live audio featuring ITU’s “Voices of Triathlon”, Jackie
Fairweather and Barrie Shepley.
Live coverage begins with the start of the women’s event at 12:30 local
time, 05:30 in Madrid, 13:30 in Sydney, 20:30 in Vancouver and 23:30 in New York.
For complete pre-race stories and start lists, please visit www.triathlon.org
and for more media information email ituhdq@triathlon.org
See the Ishigaki event page for start lists and race details.