Triathlon: Deep field to battle for Ralphs California Half Ironman men's title

OCEANSIDE, Calif.-A strong men’s field is expected to battle for the Ralphs California Half Ironman title on Saturday, April 3 in Oceanside and on nearby Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Among the top competitors expected to battle for the 2004 Ralphs title are Luke Bell (Australia), Jasper Blake (Canada), Francois Chabaud (France) and Andrey Yastrebov (Ukraine).

Bell posted an overall time of eight hours, 34 minutes and 38 seconds to place fifth at the Ironman World Championship, which was celebrating its’ 25th anniversary in 2003.

The 24-year-old Bell also finished third at the 2003 Ironman Australia event and was sixth at the same event in 2002.

Blake has been in the top five at Ironman Canada twice in his career, having finished second in 2002 and fourth in 2000 at the Penticton event. Blake was also sixth at the Ralphs California Half Ironman event in 2002.

Chabaud won Ironman France back in 2002 and finished sixth overall at the 2002 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

Yastrebov finished second overall at Ironman Florida in 2003 using a strong marathon time of 2:50:27 to run down the field.

Also in the mix for the men’s title will be Rutger Beke (Belgium), Craig Alexander (Australia), Michael Lovato (Boulder, Colo.) and Jamie Cleveland (Canada).

Beke is one of the top young talents on the Ironman circuit. The 26-year-old surprised many by finishing second at the 2003 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, finishing with a strong overall time of eight hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds.

Beke also finished third at Ironman Florida in 2002 and was second at the Ralphs California Half Ironman in 2003.

Alexander is a standout at the Half-Ironman distance, posting eight half-Ironman distance wins in his career, including winning the St. Croix Half-Ironman in 2003.

The 30-year-old Australian was also second at the Ralphs California Half Ironman in 2002.

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. Cleveland was also seventh at the Ralphs California Half Ironman in 2003.

Others who could be a factor at the 2004 Ralphs California Half Ironman include Peter Clode (New Zealand), 2003 Ironman Korea Champion Jan Strangmuller (Czech Republic), Matt Seeley (Polson, Mont.) and Kerry Classen (Bend, Ore.).

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