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ITU News
Update - April 16, 2004
Action Packed Triathlon Weekend
Valencia European Triathlon Championships, Honolulu International
Event and Triathlon Championships of the Small States of Europe are all
taking place this weekend
Valencia European Triathlon Championships - Sunday, April 18
Europe's best triathletes are heading to Valencia, Spain for the 2004
European Championships - an important event for Olympic qualification.
The men's event promises excitement as 2003 ITU World Cup Champion - Vladimir
Polikarpenko (UKR) and 2003 ITU World Champion Ivan Rana (ESP) will meet
in Valencia for the first time this season.
In the women's event Kathleen Smet (BEL) has had much success in the past
at the European Championships - she won the event in both 2000 and 2002,
and is the pre-race favourite. Ana Burgos (ESP) and Beatrice Lanza (ITA),
who is just recovering from a bike injury are strong candidates for the
podium as the next highest ranked athletes. The complete start list is
now available on www.triathlon.org
Live coverage will be available from Valencia on www.triathlon.org at
10:30 am local time on Sunday, April 18
A spot on the American Oylmpic team is on the line this weekend in Honolulu. In the women's event Americans Barb Lindquist, Laura Reback and Sheila Taormina are all strong candidates for the win. Barb led the 2003 World Rankings all year, Sheila and Laura both claimed several 2003 World Cup victories and Laura had a phenomenal 2nd place finish in the 2003 ITU Triathlon World Championships. Australia's Maxine Seear and Loretta Harrop - both already qualified for the Olympic Games are also on the Honolulu start list. 2000 Olympic Champion Brigitte McMahon is also expected to race.
In the men's event Hunter Kemper (USA) will face strong competition from American teammates Joe Umphenour and Doug Friman. Simon Whitfield (CAN) is also expected to compete- thus both the men's and women's 2000 Olympic Champions will be racing in Honolulu.
Live coverage will be available on www.triathlon.org beginning 12:30 PM local time.
Small
States of Europe ITU International Triathlon - Sunday, April 18
The 5th Annual Triathlon Championships
of the Small States of Europe will take place Sunday. April 18th in Cyprus.
This is the second time athletes are able to earn ITU points at the event
- participating countries include Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco and Cyprus.
The championships are open to European countries with a population of
less than 1 million, these countries include: Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Malta and San Marino.
The event
title has been awarded to athletes from Luxemburg for the past four years
- defending champions Jackie Komes and Tom Carier will be present. Spectators
will be cheering Soteris Nicolaou of Cyprus - the home country favourite.
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- The start lists for the Madeira ITU World Championships have now been posted
- The start lists for the Valencia ITU European Championships are now available
© www.triathlon.org 2004