Posted: August 16, 2004

Triathlon: Defending champion Harju to compete at 2004 Ironman Wisconsin triathlon

MADISON, Wisc.-Defending Ironman Wisconsin champion Dave Harju (Canada) will compete in the 2004 Ironman Wisconsin triathlon set to take place on Sunday, September 12, 2004 in Madison and surrounding Dane County.

After a number of top finishes in the past three years at Ironman North America events,

Harju broke through for the first Ironman victory in his career by winning Ironman Wisconsin in September of 2003.

Harju overcame brutal race conditions as well as strong challenges from Torbjorn Sindballe (Denmark) and Uwe Weidmann (Germany) to win the Madison event with an overall time of eight hours, 55 minutes and 26 seconds.

The 35-year-old has also been in the top ten at HSBC Ironman USA Lake Placid (eighth in 2004, sixth in 2002 and 10th in 2000) as well as Ironman Florida (2001 and 2003).

Harju enters as the pre-race favorite for the 2004 Ironman Wisconsin triathlon on the men’s side.

Ironman Wisconsin will take place for the third time on Sunday, September 12 in Madison and surrounding Dane Country. Athletes will be competing for 80 qualifying spots to the 2005 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii as well as a $25,000 pro prize purse.

For more information on Ironman Wisconsin, log onto www.ironmanwisconsin.com.