Pro files hub page

Spectators crowd to the finish line to watch athletes complete the 2007 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
Source: Rob Lee via Flick'r

With fewer than two weeks to go before the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, the triathlon world is holding its breath, watching as the pro's land one by one in Kona and trying to guess who will climb to the top of the podium this year. In the next week the Boston Triathlon Examiner will be introducing you to some of the world-class pro's who are expected to be contenders for the title in Kona.

The Ironman World Championships are the one time of the year that all the top pro's meet to compete for the title in the deepest and most competitive field of the year. Every October new pro's make a name for themselves as they beat other big names to the finish line, while others fall into relative obscurity until they get another chance to prove that they have what it takes 52 weeks later. Conditions in Hawaii are hot, humid, and windy, leading to heartbreaking blow-ups and big surprises that keep the race interesting every year.

The women's race this year promises to be especially interesting. Although two-time winner Chrissie Wellington is expected to take the title again this year, there are several women standing in line to give us the greatest Ironman upset since Mark Allen deposed Dave Scott in 1989. In the past two years, Paula Newby-Fraser's long-standing world record time for the Ironman distance has crumbled under Sandra Wallenhorst, Yvonne Van Vlerken, Rebekah Keat, and Chrissie Wellington. The quality of the women's Ironman racing is improving at an accelerated rate as the bar is seemingly raised every weekend, and other women must train harder than ever before to keep up.

In the next week, the Boston Triathlon Examiner will be presenting the pro's who have been successful in Hawaii in the past (as well as a few Kona virgins) in a series called Pro Files. Check back here for the statistics on all the Kona favorites. Watch the Boston Triathlon Examiner, and this hub page in particular as several new names will be included daily. On October 10 we will be watching WTC's live Kona coverage at Ironman.com and posting commentary on the race as it develops.

The Men