In just four years the Hy-Vee Triathlon has become one of the sports most successful events and a number of world class athletes will be on hand next weekend for this year’s running in West Des Moines. The event includes a one and a half kilometer swim, a 40 kilometer bike race and a 10K run.
Spokesperson Ruth Comer says they offer the biggest one-day purse in the sport of triathlon. She says Olympic hopefuls will also compete as the Hy-Vee Triathlon is an Olympic qualifier for 2012. Comer says this will be the only qualifier in North America this year. Comer says the world championship standings now are very close and doing well will help boost people in international rankings.
Comer says it will also be an Olympic qualifier for athletes from various countries, as each country’s federation can determine if it is a qualifier.
Next weekend’s event will also include a junior and youth triathlon.