R100,000 Up For Grabs For Record Breakers At Ironman SA

Race organizers announce new prize incentives for 2009 event

Record breakers at the 2009 Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa will receive a R10 000 bonus for any record broken in either the swim, cycle or run. If a new course record is set R20,000 will be awarded. This bonus applies to both men and women, which means a total of R100,000 could be awarded to athletes over and above the other prize money.

Triangle SA, organisers of Ironman South Africa, announced this new incentive as entries for the 2009 event officially opened. "The reason we introduced this monetary incentive is to both encourage and reward athletes who break records within the race itself," says race director Paul Wolff. "Often an athlete is strong at one discipline, but may not always finish on the podium or even be in the running for prize money. Take Anton Storm, who was first out of the water at this year's event and set a new swim record of 47:06. Anton, competing in his first full Ironman, struggled to the finish in 191st place but was motivated to do so as his swim record would only stand if he completed the entire race."

A number of records were broken at the 2008 Ironman South Africa as near perfect weather conditions allowed for a day of fast racing. By setting the race back a month, from its usual showing in March, organisers banked on better racing conditions, especially for the swim. This was certainly the case as calm seas and relatively little wind increased the pace of the race resulting in new men's and women's swim records, a new men’s cycle record, a women's run course record and the men’s course record.

Stephen Bayliss (UK), the 2008 Spec-Savers Ironman SA Champion, set a new course record of 8:18:23 and announced, “I would certainly like to be back in 2009 to defend my title.” His sentiments were reiterated by his fiancé and ladies champion Bella Comerford, also of the United Kingdom.

An athlete will have to complete the entire race in order to qualify for the bonus money. Here are the current records:




Men’s Records
Swim: 00:47:06 – Anton Storm (RSA) 2008
Cycle: 04:24:17 – Francois Chabaud (FRA) 2008
Run: 02:45:48 – Gerrit Schellens (BEL) 2007
Course: 08:18:23 – Stephen Bayliss (UK) 2008

Ladies Records
Swim: 00:50:00 – Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) 2008
Cycle: 05:00:47 – Natascha Badmann (SUI) 2005
Run: 03:08:45 – Edith Niderfriniger (ITA) 2008
Course: 09:22:01 – Natascha Badmann (SUI) 2007

Spec –Savers Ironman South Africa
5 April 2009
30 qualifying slots for the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii
www.ironmansouthafrica.com