MEDIA RELEASE

With the introduction of the new Kona Pro Ranking system this year the world’s top Ironman athletes have been competing around the world trying to gain enough points to get a starting position for this year’s Ironman World Championship.

After the first cut off date, July 31, the top 25 women and top 40 men in the standings were offered slots and were given until Aug. 7 to accept before their spots rolled down to the next qualified athletes.

Here’s how the list looks – at the end of the month 10 more men and five more women will be added to the Kona start list.

Of note right now is that Andreas Raelert still hasn’t officially received an invitation for Kona, but he will at the end of August because he validated his Ironman invitation with a finish at Ironman Regensburg.

Defending men’s champion Chris McCormack hasn’t competed at an Ironman event this year because he has been chasing a spot on Australia’s Olympic team for 2012.

Terenzo Bozzone managed to get an invitation thanks to a few athletes ahead of him opting out of the chance to race in Kona, as did Uli Bromme on the women’s side.

With just a few weeks of qualifying remaining, we’re in for some exciting racing as the last 15 professional competitors nail down their spots.

On the chart below, the athletes in red have elected not to accept their Kona invitations.

— Find out more:
www.ironman.com