Ironman African Championship Set For Sunday

The second championship-level Ironman event of the year will take place this weekend in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. The Ironman African Championship will offer a $150,000 prize purse and a slew of Kona Pro Ranking (KPR) points. It will also award each of the winners automatic entry into this fall’s Ironman World Championship.

With defending champion Nils Frommhold (GER) choosing to compete at last weekend’s Melbourne event, there will be a new winner for 2015. 2013 Ironman world champion Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) highlights the start list. If he finishes the race, he’ll validate his Kona start. His top competition will likely come from Cyril Viennot (FRA), Bart Aernouts (BEL), Kyle Buckingham (RSA), James Cunnama (RSA), Victor Del Corral (ESP), Eneko Llanos (ESP), TJ Tollakson (USA) and Sylvain Sudrie (FRA).

In the women’s race, Jodie Swallow (GBR) is the favorite to grab the title. Like the men, the women’s field is very deep with several women who could win. Look for strong performances from Camilla Pedersen (DEN), Linsey Corbin (USA), Lucie Reed (CZE), Diana Riesler (GER), Caitlin Snow (USA) and Sonja Tajsich (GER).

With so much on the line, don’t be surprised to see a lesser-known name show up in top shape and steal a spot on the podium or the win. See the start lists below.

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Men’s Start List
1 Cyril Viennot (FRA)
2 Frederik Van Lierde (BEL)
3 Bart Aernouts (BEL)
5 Kyle Buckingham (RSA)
6 Bas Diederen (NED)
7 Matt Trautman (RSA)
8 Johann Ackermann (GER)
9 Mike Aigroz (SUI)
10 Konstantin Bachor (GER)
12 Gerhard DeBruin (RSA)
13 Fraser Cartmell (GBR)
14 Alberto Casadei (ITA)
17 Greg Close (USA)
18 James Cunnama (RSA)
19 Karl-Johan Danielsson (SWE)
20 Michael Davidson (RSA)
21 Victor Del Corral (ESP)
22 Trevor Delsaut (FRA)
23 Marc Deulsen (GER)
25 Herve Faure (FRA)
26 Frederik Flagstad (DEN)
27 Hannes Cool (BEL)
28 Kent Horner (RSA)
29 Allan Hovda (NOR)
31 Kirill Kotsegarov (EST)
32 Roman Roman Krutina (CZE)
33 Eneko Llanos (ESP)
34 Carlos Lopez Diaz (ESP)
35 Jim Lubinsky (USA)
36 David McNamee (GBR)
37 Joannes Moldan (GER)
39 David Plese (SLO)
40 Ivan Rana (ESP)
41 Michael Reunz (GER)
42 Till Schramm (GER)
43 Boris Stein (GER)
44 Sylvain Sudrie (FRA)
46 TJ Tollakson (USA)
47 Craig Twigg (GBR)
48 Urs Muller (SUI)
49 Hendrik-Jan Verhaegen (BEL)
50 Andrej Vistica (CRO)

Women’s Start List
51 Jodie Swallow (GBR)
38 Camilla Pedersen (DEN)
52 Linsey Corbin (USA)
54 Lucy Gossage (GBR)
55 Stefanie Adam (BEL)
56 Anne Basso (FRA)
59 Susie Cheetham (GBR)
60 Tine Deckers (BEL)
61 Amber Ferreira (USA)
63 Astrid Ganzow (GER)
64 Alyssa Godesky (USA)
65 Eleanor Haresign (GBR)
66 Corina Hengartner (SUI)
67 Jessica Jones Meyers (USA)
69 Heather Leiggi (USA)
70 Maria Lemeseva (RUS)
71 Caroline Livesey (GBR)
72 Britta Martin (NZL)
73 Nina Pekerman (ISR)
74 Lucie Reed (CZE)
75 Diana Riesler (GER)
76 Riana Robertson (RSA)
78 Caitlin Snow (USA)
79 Sonja Tajsich (GER)
81 Eva Wutti (AUT)