Hot weekend of racing in the Mid West for Ironman 70.3 Muncie

There’s a fresh look to the pro women’s field at Ironman Muncie 70.3 this weekend, with not one of the top three from 2012 or the inaugural race in 2011 on the start line in 2013. Despite this there is still a quality field assembled ready to take on what is sure to be a hot and humid race!

With Angela Naeth missing from the start line due to a focus on next weekends Ironman 70.3 Racine, Magali Tisseyre will be headlining the field. Better known as Mighty Magali, the Canadian athlete has just come off a second place at Ironman 70.3 Mount Tremblant and a third at the very competitive Rev 3 Knoxville. Tisseyre finished 7th place at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in 2012 and is a multiple Ironman 70.3 Champion.

Dede Griesbauer finished 5th at Muncie in 2011, so will have a good idea of what the oppressive heat can do to your race. Griesbauer, at 42 years of age, is one of the sports top swimmers alongside Anna Cleaver and Nina Kraft (both also in this field), and has showed tremendous determination and courage to overcome some pretty horrific injuries over her career. A name to watch in this talented field and is sure to be up the front of the race out of the water.

Nina Kraft, the 44 year old German professional, continues to race at the pointy end of every race she enters. Kraft sure knows how to ride a bike and can run a pretty handy half marathon, so look for her in the top five.

The Southern Hemisphere contingent is represented by Aussie Kate Bevilaqua, a consistent podium placer, and Kiwi Anna Cleaver, who you can expect to see off the front following the swim. These athletes are two of many “Southerner’s” living abroad to chase valuable points for the Ironman 70.3 and Ironman World Championships in the points ranking system.

In 2012 this race was shortened due to extremely hot conditions, which fair to say can be expected in the United States Mid-West in the middle of Summer. With a great deal of training and effort going in to preparing for these events I am sure each and every the athlete will be hoping for slightly milder conditions this weekend so that the full 70.3 distance can be covered safely.

There are 40 qualifying slots for age groupers for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship at Lake Las Vegas, Henderson NV.