PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.-Canada's Tom Evans and Australia's Michellie Jones claimed the men's and women's titles respectively at the 2004 Ironman Florida Triathlon held on Saturday in Panama City Beach, Fla. Considered one of the most gruelling events in all of sports, an Ironman Triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a complete marathon (26.2 miles) all run in succession. Athletes have 17 hours to complete the event.
 

Evans won his second Ironman title of the year (the 36-year-old won Subaru Ironman Canada back in August), used a very balanced effort in all three legs to post an overall time of eight hours, 31 minutes, and seven seconds. Evans was able to overtake Sweden's Bjorn Andersson on the run portion of the event and held off hard-charging Olivier Bernhard of Switzerland to take the men's title. Andersson led for the entire bike portion of the event, but was forced to drop out with a foot injury on the marathon portion. Bernhard posted the fastest marathon time of the day (2:48:14) to finish second with an overall time of 8:35:30. Bernhard, 36, won Ironman Switzerland earlier this year.

1999 Ironman Florida champion Lothar Leder finished third with a time of 8:37:00, with Swen Sundberg (Germany) fourth in 8:44:35 and two-time Ironman Wisconsin champion Dave Harju (Canada) fifth in 8:48:36. Jones, the 2000 Olympic silver medallist in triathlon, started her Ironman career with a bang by winning the women's title with an overall time of 9:28:54. A two-time ITU short-course triathlon world champion, Jones was competing in the first-ever Ironman event of her career. The 32-year-old Australian took control of the event on the 112-mile bike and never looked back in earning the win.

Two-time Ironman Florida champion Bella Comerford (Scotland) finished second with a time of 9:34:54. Comerford, who had won the last two Ironman Florida women's titles, had the fastest marathon time (3:10:40) among the women's field at the 2004 event. Barbara Buenahora (Argentina) finished third with a time of 9:36:27, with Natasha Filliol (Canada) fourth in 9:37:24 and Sheri Fraser (Canada) fifth in 9:42:44.

2,122 athletes started the event, which took place for the sixth time in Panama City Beach. Athletes were competing for a $50,000 pro prize purse as well as 100 qualifying spots to the 2005 Ironman Triathlon World Championship being held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in October.

For more information on Ironman Florida, log onto www.ironmanflorida.com.

For more information on this release, contact Ironman North America Communications Director Shane Facteau at 407-832-2417 or via e-mail at [email protected]

Results from the 2004 Ironman Florida Triathlon Saturday, November 6, 2004

Men

1. Tom Evans, Canada, 8:31:07

2. Olivier Bernhard, Switzerland, 8:35:30

3. Lothar Leder, Germany, 8:37:00

4. Swen Sundberg, Germany, 8:44:35

5. Dave Harju, Canada, 8:48:36

6. Tom Soderdahl, Finland, 8:50:02

7. James Bonney, Austin, Texas, 8:51:30

8. Nils Goerke, Germany, 8:54:58

9. Federico Girasole, Italy, 9:01:20

10. Michel Kraeuchi, Switzerland, 9:01:20

Women

1. Michellie Jones, Australia, 9:28:54

2. Bella Comerford, Scotland, 9:34:54

3. Barbara Buenahora, Argentina, 9:36:27

4. Natasha Filliol, Canada, 9:37:24

5. Sheri Fraser, Canada, 9:42:44

6. Andrea Fisher, Austin, Texas, 9:43:37

7. Charlene Waldner, Canada, 9:50:35

8. Heather Haviland, Waukesha, Wisc., 9:50:38

9. Jackie Hatherly, Canada, 9:53:26

10. Heidi Jesberger, Germany, 10:02:46