St. Anthony's 30th Triathlon Features World Champions, Past Winners, Olympians

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Mar 11, 2013, 05:29 ET

Ospaly Returns to Defend Title

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In its 30^th year, the St. Anthony's Triathlon will include one of the strongest professional fields in the sport with athletes from around the United States and the world competing for a portion of the $65,000 prize purse. Taking place on April 28, 2013, the race will see the return of Filip Ospaly, the Czech Republic athlete who won the men's title for the past two years.

The professional field with more than 60 athletes will have a host of Olympians and World Champions representing a variety of distances from the sport including Ironman and 70.3 racing, to the non-drafting Olympics distance and the ITU. Challenging Ospaly this year is a men's field featuring several big names including Matt Reed, a 2008 Olympian and two-time St. Anthony's Triathlon Champion. Tim O'Donnell, an Ironman champion who finished third in last year's St. Anthony's Triathlon will be back. Hunter Kemper, a four-time Olympian will be back on the race's waterfront course. 2006 World Champion, five-time British National Champion and winner of seven ITU World Cups, Tim Don will compete at St. Anthony's. Olympic triathlete Greg Bennett will bring his experience from several Ironman 70.3 wins in 2012 to St. Petersburg.

The crowded women's field will feature last year's second-place finisher Alicia Kay of Clermont, Fla. and third-place finisher Jodie Stimpson, who started her 2013 season at the Australia Day Aquathon swim/run contest with a second-place finish. 2012 Olympic silver medalist Lisa Norden, who had two first-place finishes in ITU World Triathlon Corp. events and first-place wins in the Hy-Vee Triathlon in 2011 and 2012, will race at St. Anthony's. 2012 Olympic competitor Laura Bennett, who was also USA National Champion in 2010 and 2003, is returning to the St. Anthony's Triathlon, along with Ironman 70.3 World Champion Mirinda Carfrae. Ashleigh Gentle of Australia, who won the 30^th Anniversary Noosa Triathlon, one of her home country's largest international races, will compete in St. Petersburg. Olympic triathlete and 2010 New Zealand World Champion Andrea Hewitt will also race St. Anthony's.

The first event of the 2013 global 5150 Triathlon Series, St. Anthony's is an international-distance race (1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run) offering athletes coveted points toward 5150 U.S. Championship qualification. It is the largest international distance triathlon series in the world and the first non-drafting international race series of its kind, offering a competitive platform for professional and age-group athletes.

Known for its scenic course along the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, St. Anthony's Triathlon also has been named the fourth largest triathlon in the country by USA Triathlon.

St. Anthony's Triathlon attracts approximately 3,500 individuals and 125 relay teams each year from more than 45 states and nearly 20 countries. The race weekend includes an extensive event expo and the Meek & Mighty Triathlon, a shorter-distance race for youth ages 7-14 and novice adults. Athletes compete for the professional prize purse in addition to $10,000 in prizes for the top male and female competitors in the Elite Amateur division.

Look for news about St. Anthony's Triathlon at www.SATriathlon.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/StAnthonysTriathlon.

About St. Anthony's Hospital
St. Anthony's Hospital produces the St. Anthony's Triathlon and is a 395-bed hospital founded in 1931 as a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The first faith-based hospital in Pinellas County, Fla., St. Anthony's celebrated its 80th year in 2011 and the hospital continues its rich history dedicated to improving the health of the community by providing high-quality, innovative and compassionate care.

About BayCare Health System
BayCare Health System is a leading community-based health system in the Tampa Bay area. Composed of a network of 10 not-for-profit hospitals, outpatient facilities and services such as imaging, lab, behavioral health and home health care, BayCare provides expert medical care throughout a patient's lifetime. With more than 200 access points conveniently located throughout Tampa Bay, BayCare connects patients to a complete range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for any health care need.

BayCare's family of hospitals are: Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony's, St. Joseph's, St. Joseph's Children's, St. Joseph's Hospital-North, St. Joseph's Women's, and South Florida Baptist. For more information, visit BayCare on the Web at www.BayCare.org.

SOURCE St. Anthony’s Hospital