X-Tri Australia has announced that two of its races will join the Ironman 70.3 Series in 2011. The new triathlon events in Australia to join the series will be Ironman 70.3 Yeppoon race and Ironman 70.3 Canberra race. Both events will transition to from the Australian Half Ironman Series, launched more than 15 years ago to the ever expanding the Ironman 70.3 Series.
Both events will offer 25 qualifying slots for the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3, held in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, September 9, 2012. Additionally, both races will feature US$15,000 in prize money and qualifying status for both the Lake Las Vegas and Kona Pro Ranking series.
Triathlon: Ironman 70.3 Yeppoon
When: Sunday, August 14, 2011
Where: Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia
Divisions: Professional, Age Group
Website: www.ironmanyeppoon.com
The inaugural Ironman 70.3 Yeppoon on August 14, 2011 takes place in and around the Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon in Central Queensland. Yeppoon enjoys idyllic conditions in August, allowing athletes from southern Australian states to escape winter and athletes from the northern hemisphere to journey "Down Under" after a summer's training.
Triathlon: Ironman 70.3 Canberra
When: Sunday, December 11, 2011
Where: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Divisions: Professional, Age Group
Website: www.ironmancanberra.com
The inaugural Ironman 70.3 Canberra event will take place on December 11 and will be the final Ironman World Championship 70.3 qualifier in 2011. The race takes place in the national capital of Australia and features urban and rural scenery. A lake swim, a ride through the nation's major iconic buildings and landmarks and run through downtown Canberra's parklands.
Both races will consist of the standard Ironman 70.3 series distances of a 1.9km Swim - 90km Bike - 21.1km Run. The two new races brings the number of 70.3 races in Australia to four, with the others being in Busselton and Port Macquarie. The total number of races in the global Ironman 70.3 Series moves to 52 in 2011.
"Ironman is excited to be partnering with X-Tri for Yeppoon and Canberra and, in turn, offering Australians more qualifying slots to the Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Lake Las Vegas, and the professionals an improved prize purse, allowing some of Australia's best athletes to race on home soil." - Ironman General Manager (Australia) Shane Smith
General entry for the Ironman 70.3 Yeppoon event will open on December 21st, while entries for the Ironman 70.3 Canberra race will open in January, 2011.
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• Western Australia Joins Series with Ironman 70.3 Busselton
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