Triathlon: Lovato, Cleveland to race at Ralphs California Half Ironman

OCEANSIDE, Calif.-Top triathletes Michael Lovato (Boulder, Colo.) and Jamie Cleveland (Canada) will compete in the 2004 Ralphs California Half Ironman set to take place on Saturday, April 3 in Oceanside and on nearby Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Lovato posted the first Ironman win of his career by claiming the men’s title at the inaugural Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene triathlon in June of 2003. Lovato overcame brutal conditions to post an overall time of eight hours, 40 minutes and 59 seconds to claim the title.

2003 also saw the 30-year-old place 9th overall at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii with an overall time of 8:36:56.

Lovato was also fifth at the Oceanside event in 2003.

Another in a long line of impressive Canadian triathletes, Cleveland won his first Ironman title of his career in November of 2000 by claiming the Ironman Florida title with an overall time of 8:37:58. Cleveland also won the Canadian National Triathlon Championship and the New Balance Half Ironman in 2000. 2002 saw Cleveland post a fourth-place finish at the inaugural Ironman Wisconsin triathlon held in September in Madison, Wisc.

The Ralphs California Half Ironman triathlon takes place for the third time in Oceanside and on neighboring Camp Pendleton in 2004. More than 2,000 athletes from around the world are expected to compete. Athletes will be competing for 20 qualifying spots to the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $25,000 pro prize purse.

For more information on the Ralphs California Half Ironman, log onto www.ironmancalifornia.com