Posted: October 28, 2004

Triathlon: Two-time defending champion Comerford to compete in the 2004 Ironman Florida Triathlon

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.-Two-time defending women’s champion Bella Comerford (Scotland) will return to defend her title at the 2004 Ironman Florida triathlon set to take place on Saturday, November 6 in Panama City Beach.

Comerford has won Ironman Florida twice in her career, posting a career-best Ironman time of nine hours, 26 minutes and 17 seconds in winning the Panama City Beach event in 2003.

A brilliant runner, Comerford has overcome large deficits both years in winning Ironman Florida. The 26-year-old also logged a third-place finish at Ironman Lanzarote in 2003.

Comerford joins a strong women’s field that features 2004 Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene champion Lynley Allison (New Zealand), 2004 California Half-Ironman champion and 2000 Olympic silver medallist Michellie Jones (Australia) and long-time Ironman standout Wendy Ingraham (Alamo, Calif.).

Athletes will be competing for 100 qualifying spots to the 2005 Ironman World Championship held in October in Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $50,000 pro prize purse.

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