Stellar Field Heads To Panama

Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Panama race will feature the toughest pro lineup of any race so far in 2014. Half-Ironman veterans and ITU stars hoping to break into the 70.3 rankings will battle for the highest Kona Pro Ranking points available at any 70.3 race outside of the world championship.

On the men’s side, all eyes will be on reigning ITU world champion Javier Gomez, who is starting to give longer distance races a try. He’ll face off against former ITU athletes Bevan Docherty (NZL, he won this race in 2012), Matt Chrabot (USA) and Tim Don (GBR). Their toughest competition will come from long-course veterans Oscar Galindez (ARG, the defending champion), Richie Cunningham (AUS), Paul Matthews (AUS), Matt Reed (USA), Axel Zeebroek (BEL), Trevor Wurtele (CAN) and Andrew Starykowicz (USA).

The two women who’ve won this race (Angela Naeth in 2012 and Heather Wurtele in 2013) have the most experience on the Panama course and will be the favorites heading into Sunday. Their biggest challenge could come from Scotland’s Catriona Morrison. Morrison has been off the radar for the past couple of years due to injury, but she started 2014 off with a huge win at Ironman 70.3 Auckland. Other women to watch include Heather Jackson (USA), who is looking to qualify for Kona in 2014, Svenja Bazlen (GER), Mary Beth Ellis (USA), Natascha Badmann (SUI), Rebeccah Wassner (USA) and Laurel Wassner (USA).

Check back for more coverage from Panama.

Men’s Lineup
1 Oscar Galindez
2 Bevan Docherty
3 Richie Cunningham
4 Igor Amorelli
5 Alessandro Degasperi
6 Paul Matthews
7 Matt Reed
9 Axel Zeebroek
10 Trevor Wurtele
11 Tim Don
12 Felipe Aguayo
13 Bertrand Billard
14 Matt Chrabot
15 Greg Close
17 Nathan Dressel
18 Javier Gomez
19 Billy Gordon
20 Francois Humblet
21 Manuel Kueng
22 Frederic Limousin
23 Mikolaj Luft
24 San Martin Rodrigo Sepulveda
25 Swen Sundberg
26 Jan Van Berkel
27 Ciro Violin
28 Andrew Starykowicz
30 Ezequiel Morales

Women’s Lineup
35 Heather Wurtele
37 Angela Naeth
38 Margaret Shapiro
39 Catriona Morrison
40 Mary Beth Ellis
42 Heather Jackson
43 Svenja Bazlen
45 Natascha Badmann
46 Lauren Barnett
48 Ruth Brennan Morrey
49 Darbi Roberts
51 Erika Erickson
55 Ariane Monticeli
56 Molly Roohi
57 Allison Stewart
58 Rebeccah Wassner
59 Laurel Wassner
60 Ricarda Lisk
61 Ana Lidia Borba

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