Pro Field Star Attraction at Ironman China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 6, 2009 --

Much of the pre-race speculation focuses on 2008 Danish Olympian, Rasmus Henning. After racing short course for the best part of his storied career, Henning is following his heart to the toughest race on earth: Ironman. The word on the street is that Henning is a potential Ironman World Champion, given his long distance debut races where he won a Gold and Silver Medal at the 2000 and 2001 ITU World Championships. After this stunning debut, Henning turned his attention to Olympic distance racing, including a top 10 finish at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. The great Dane is confident that China is the right destination for a smooth transition back to longer distance racing. “The conditions are pretty similar to those of Hawaii, and I wish to prepare myself well for the Ironman World Championships,” Henning said of his official Ironman debut in China. “I intend to be on the podium at the very least in China, though if everything works out well for me, I think I’ll have a good shot at winning. Mid-April will be perfect for me, and I hope to be in excellent shape.”

Returning to China with equally high hopes are Tim Marr (USA) and Park Byung Hoon (KOR). Park Byung Hoon is undoubtedly the strongest Asian contender and has the support of the region behind him in his bid to secure his first Ironman win. Last year, Marr and Hoon put on a show with a sprint for second place that was won by the sure-striding Korean. Third place was a disappointing result for Marr who lead much of the race on the bike before being overtaken by eventual Ironman China 2008 winner Olaf Sebatchus of Germany in the early portion of the run. Hawaiian born Marr believes that his debut Ironman year stands him in good stead for a shot at the title in China. “With a great day I can take the overall win," said Marr.  

The finish chute could host even more drama if Hungarian Jozef Major plays the same cards he used to win Ironman Arizona last April. The wily European took the title in Arizona by a cat's whisker after a dramatic tussle in the closing metres of the race. Other familiar faces will include Ironman Japan winner, Luke McKenzie (AUS), and Mat O'Halloran (CAN). Both have experienced Asia’s demanding race conditions: O’Halloran was first out of the water in China in 2008, and his training base is currently the Philippines. McKenzie trains in the summer heat of Australia’s Gold Coast and starts his season in Geelong this weekend.

In the women's line up, Asia's Ironman Queen, Belinda Granger (AUS), returns to defend her title at Ironman China in April. With 4 Ironman distance wins in the past 12 months, and more than a 30 minute lead over second placed Donna Phelan (CAN) in Ironman China 2008, Granger's strategy for this year's race is experience. “I know the course and can cope with the conditions. I seem to really thrive at the Asian races, and I always look forward to returning to a race and defending my crown--it gives me that little bit extra incentive to push hard.”

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