Three-Time Champion Comerford To Race Ford Ironman Florida

Defending champion set to battle 14-time Ironman champ Heather Fuhr

Bella Comerford of Scotland has dominated the women's race at the Ford Ironman Florida over the past five years. Comerford's win in 2005 gave her a total of three titles at the Panama City Beach event including her wins in 2002 and 2003. The 29-year-old posted a career best time of nine hours, 26 minutes and 17 seconds to claim her second title, and followed that up with a second place finish to Michellie Jones in 2004.

Comerford will face a strong challenge from former Ironman World Champion, Heather Fuhr. Fuhr has fourteen Ironman wins on her resume including the 1997 World Championship, five titles at Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid and four wins at Ironman Japan including one earlier this year. One of the most successful female athletes in the sport, Fuhr, originally from Canada and now a resident of San Diego, CA, has a record of achievements second only to Paula Newby-Fraser.

Also in contention will be Hilary Biscay, 28, of Manhattan Beach, CA. Biscay has had a busy season so far this year racing to third place at both Ford Ironman Arizona and Ironman Brazil, finishing fifth at Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene, fourth at Ironman Austria, and most recently posted a season's best second place at the recent Ford Ironman Wisconsin.

Others to watch in the women’s field include Andrea Fisher of Austin, TX and Tamara Kozulina from the Ukraine. Fisher, always one of the first women out of the water, finished third at Ironman Canada in 2003 and Ford Ironman Wisconsin in 2004. Kozulina has a third place at Ironman New Zealand to her credit as well as a fourth place finish at the 2005 edition of Ford Ironman Arizona.