Field Of All Stars Set For Timberman Ironman 70.3

A preview of the Timberman Ironman 70.3 race to take place this Sunday, Aug. 23 in Gilford, N.H.

With the Ironman World Championships less than two months away, many of the top contenders have isolated themselves in their favorite training spots. The Timberman Ironman 70.3 triathlon will bring some of the best triathletes out of hiding to test their fitness on a beautiful course. Every year Timberman’s professional field becomes more and more impressive with athletes citing the great race director, course and post-race festivities as the reasons for returning year after year.

In the women’s race, Great Britain’s Chrissie Wellington is the defending champ and the favorite to win this year. This will be her last race before heading to Kona to defend her title at the Ironman World Championships. Wellington’s path to victory in New Hampshire won’t be easy as Canada’s Magali Tisseyre is a late entrant in to the race. Tisseyre burst on to the scene by beating a tough field and winning the Ironman 70.3 Boise triathlon. She specializes at the half-ironman distance and could give Wellington a run for the win. Other top females include Australian Kate Major and Americans Dede Griesbauer, Amanda Stevens, Terra Castro and Jen Coombs.

The men’s race favorite is American Andy Potts. Like Wellington, Potts is the defending champ at Timberman and will be a contender in Kona. The biggest challenge for Potts will be from Americans T.J. Tollakson and Michael Lovato. Tollakson turned in a runner-up performance at Ironman Coeur d’Alene and is looking for a win in the 2009 season. Lovato is a veteran of this race and will be looking for his second 70.3 victory of the season after winning the Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island triathlon. Other athletes vying for podium spots include Scotland’s Fraser Cartmell, the United States’ David Kahn, Sweeden’s Bjorn Andersson, and Australia’s Chris Legh and Simon Thompson.