St. Anthony's Triathlon Showcases One of its Largest and Most Competitive Pro Fields to Date

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Apr 26, 2011, 01:26 ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After nearly 30 historic years, the 2011 edition of St. Anthony's Triathlon will host its most diverse and competitive professional field of athletes to date. On May 1, some of the sport's greatest athletes with titles ranging from Olympic medalists to World Cup champions will line up to take on the international-distance course in St. Petersburg, Fla. The event is now part of the new global 5150 Triathlon Series, offering more than 70 short and long-course specialists coveted points toward 5150 U.S. Championship qualification.

The men's field will consist of several notable athletes, including last year's defending champion, Cameron Dye; Greg Bennett, Olympian and six-time World Cup champion; Stuart Hayes, ITU silver medalist; Andy Potts, Ironman 70.3 World Champion and Olympian; Matt Reed, Olympian and Ironman 70.3 champion; Bevan Docherty, Olympic bronze medalist; and Kris Gemmell, four-time ITU World champion.

Sarah Haskins, Olympian and ITU Triathlete, will return to the course to defend her title against a strong field of professional female athletes, including Laura Bennett, Olympic team member and four-time ITU World Championship medalist; Becky Lavelle, U.S. Olympic team alternate and Ironman 70.3 champion; Annabel Luxford, four-time ITU World Cup Winner; Anna Cleaver, Ironman 70.3 champion; and Rebeccah Wassner, 2009 St. Anthony's winner and two-time New York City Triathlon champion.

Known for its scenic course along the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, St. Anthony's Triathlon attracts approximately 4,000 individuals and 150 relay teams each year from more than 45 states and nearly 20 countries. The race weekend will also include an extensive event expo on April 29 and 30 and the Meek & Mighty Triathlon on April 30, a shorter-distance race for youth ages 7 to 14 and novice adults. Athletes will compete for a professional prize purse totaling $65,000 in addition to $10,000 in prizes for the top male and female competitors in the Elite Amateur division. Visit www.satriathlon.com for details.

In its inaugural year, the 5150 Triathlon Series, owned by World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), 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. The 2011 event schedule includes 13 domestic events as well as several international races. The Hy-Vee Triathlon will host the 5150 U.S. Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sept. 4, 2011, offering professional athletes the opportunity to compete for more than $1-million in prize money. For more information, visit www.5150.com.

About World Triathlon Corporation
World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) is a Tampa-based company recognized for athletic excellence, distinguished events and quality products. WTC's portfolio includes Ironman, Ironman 70.3, 5150 Triathlon Series, Iron Girl and IronKids brands, which have a combined total of more than 180 events worldwide each year. Supported by partners including Ford, Timex, Foster Grant and PowerBar, Ironman is the No.1 user-based sports brand in the world and has been a respected name in triathlon since its inception in 1978.

About St. Anthony's Hospital
St. Anthony's Hospital is a 395-bed hospital founded in 1931 as a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and is the first and only faith-based hospital in Pinellas County. As St. Anthony's celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2011, 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 BayCare Health System