Posted: June 1, 2005

Triathlon: Lessing to compete at 2005 Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene

COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO-2004 Ford Ironman Lake Placid champion Simon Lessing (Great Britain) will compete at the third annual Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene that will be held on June 26, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Lessing won his second consecutive title at the Ford Florida Half-Ironman at the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort on May 22 of this year. Lessing finished with an overall time of three hours, 52 minutes and six seconds, five minutes faster than the second-place finisher.

Lessing claimed his first Ironman title by setting a new course record at Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid in July of 2004. His overall time of 8:23:12 was more than 10 minutes faster than the previous Lake Placid course record.

One major change at Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene and Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid is that each will serve as a men's only professional and women's only professional races respectively in 2005.

There will be a $50,000 pro prize purse for professional men at the 2005 Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene triathlon and a $50,000 women's prize purse at the 2005 Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid triathlon.

More than 2,000 triathletes from around the world are expected to compete in the Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene. Athletes will be competing for 80 qualifying spots to the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $50,000 pro prize purse.