Kona Odds Look Good For Ironman Korea Participants

After the cancellation of Ironman China in May, this Sunday’s Ironman Korea will be the only Ironman race in Asia this year. Because of the cancellation, 25 more Kona slots were added to the Jeju Island event, now totaling 75 entries. And for a field of only 911 age groupers in the iron distance, the odds are better than normal for securing a slot to the Big Island (12 percent of the field will go!). Also, only 219 athletes are participating in the corresponding 70.3 race, which has 35 slots for the 70.3 World Championships.

According to Ironman.com, the international entries of the race swelled to 50 percent, compared to 20 percent in previous years—242 from Japan, 58 from Australia and 52 from the United States.