Jacobs, Crowie Highlight 70.3 Hawaii Start List

The 10th racing of Ironman 70.3 Hawaii (nicknamed “Honu” after the Hawaiian green sea turtle) will take place this Saturday on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. The race is popular among age-groupers because it’s one of the few Ironman 70.3 races that offers qualifying slots to the Ironman World Championship, and the course overlaps with the northern half of the Ironman Hawaii bike course—great preparation for the October race.

At the top of the start list for this year’s race are two notable Aussies: reigning Ironman world champion Pete Jacobs and three-time world champion Craig “Crowie” Alexander. As a former 70.3 world champion (and the 2010 Honu winner), Alexander might have a slight advantage at this distance over Jacobs; however, Alexander might be saving his legs for Ironman 70.3 Kansas the following weekend. Their toughest competition will come from fellow Aussies Luke Bell, the 2011 Honu champion who earned his first Ironman title earlier this month, and Paul “Barny” Matthews, a multiple 70.3 champion.

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The women’s race will likely be a battle between veteran pro Belinda Granger of Australia, the 2010 and 2009 70.3 Hawaii champ, and American Bree Wee, the 2011 Honu winner, who lives and trains on the island.

Men:
Pete Jacobs (AUS)
Craig Alexander (AUS)
Luke Bell (AUS)
Paul Matthews (AUS)
Brian McLeod (AUS)
Brett Tingay (NZL)
José Augusto de Azevedo Antunes Filho (BRA)
Justin Granger (AUS)
Timothy Marr (USA)
Lewis Elliott (USA)
Damon Barnett (USA)
Jose Jeuland (FRA)
Benjamin Williams (USA)
Arland Macasieb (PHL)

Women:
Belinda Granger (AUS)
Bree Wee (USA)
Meghan Newcomer (USA)
Julia Grant (NZL)
Adrienne Hengels (USA)
Brooke Brown (CAN)
Hannah Lawrence (NZL)
Elly Franks (AUS)

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