On the early road to Kona
The early 2014 KPR chase is now over and 45 men and 30 women can now sleep a bit better. But it is not all written in stone – things can still change.
The past weekend of racing made the picture much clearer, and with auto qualifiers and folks who have not yet validated, slots always slide down, but we typically do not know for sure if everyone who will get a slot can and will take it. Injuries, family situations and other obligations have prevented people before from not going, and this year is likely no different. Last year Corinne Abraham was taken out late with a difficult injury, but hopefully this year we won't see any Pro unable to go for health reasons. But we share today which male and female Pros have officially early qualified for the 2014 GoPro Ironman World Championships (if they take the slot), and who is sitting right on the outside – possibly hoping for no shows and nay sayers.
The Pro men situation
Defending champion Frederik Van Lierde and former champion Craig Alexander, plus 70.3 World Champion Sebastian Kienle have already automatic spots since they validated with Ironman entries, and that means at least 43 men have the opportunity to start in Kona this year. 2012 champion Pete Jacobs sits currently in 123rd position but he validated with Ironman Switzerland yesterday and is thus automatically in too. Timo Bracht in 31st position has not yet validated and did not plan to, and that means that the top 44 males plus Pete Jacobs will have the opportunity to line up at the pier. Word also has it that Cameron Brown might not accept his slot and that would allow Jordan Rapp to jump over the hump.
2014 men's KPR standing as of July 27
1. Sebastian Kienle (GER) 14,770 * AQ
2. Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) 11,640 * AQ
3. Tyler Butterfield (BER) 8,420 *
4. Timothy O'Donnell (USA) 8,077 *
5. Ivan Raña (ESP) 7,855 *
6. Luke McKenzie (AUS) 7,580 *
7. James Cunnama (RSA) 7,405 *
8. Bart Aernouts (BEL) 7,015 *
9. Jan Frodeno (GER) 6,640 *
10. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 6,565 *
11. Victor Morales (ESP) 6,500 *
12. Andy Potts (USA) 5,610 *
13. Michael Weiss (AUT) 5,495 *
14. Joe Gambles (AUS) 5,380 *
15. Igor Amorelli (BRA) 5,200 *
16. David Plese (SLO) 4,925 *
17. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) 4,920 *
18. Eneko Llanos (ESP) 4,905 *
19. Tim Van Berkel (AUS) 4,825 *
20. Maik Twelsiek (GER) 4,755 *
21. Faris Al-Sultan (GER) 4,660 *
22. Paul Matthews (AUS) 4,510 *
23. Andrew Starykowicz (USA) 4,450 *
24. Marek Jaskolka (POL) 4,345 *
25. Christian Kramer (GER) 4,325 *
26. Jeremy Jurkiewicz (FRA) 4,280 *
27. David Dellow (AUS) 4,250 *
28. Cyril Viennot (FRA) 4,240 *
29. Cameron Brown (NZL) 4,225 *
30. Filip Ospaly (CZE) 4,130 *
31. Timo Bracht (GER) 4,130
32. Ben Hoffman (USA) 4,095 *
33. Nils Frommhold (GER) 4,060 *
34. Kyle Buckingham (RSA) RSA) 4,024 *
35. Dirk Bockel (LUX) 4,000 *
36. Romain Guillaume (FRA) 3,980 *
37. Marko Albert (EST) 3,935 *
38. Craig Alexander (AUS) 3,890 * AQ
39. Matt Russell (USA) 3,790 *
40. Bevan Docherty (NZL) 3,675 *
41. Daniel Fontana (ITA) 3,645 *
42. Tim Reed (AUS) 3,625 *
43. Axel Zeebroek (BEL) 3,515 *
44. Boris Stein (GER) 3,500 *
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45. Jordan Rapp (USA) 3,420 *
46. Elliot Holtham (CAN) 3,405
47. Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) 3,335 *
48. Paul Ambrose (GBR) 3,335
49. Markus Thomschke (GER) 3,280 *
The Pro women situation
With defending Ironman World Champion Mirinda Carfrae and 70.3 World Champion Melissa Hauschildt automatically in, that slides slots two positions down to 30th position, but Annabel Luxford has not yet validated her entry with an Ironman, and that means the slots should roll down to 31st place.
2014 women's KPR standing as of July 27
1. Rachel Joyce (GBR) 10,240 *
2. Meredith Kessler (USA) 10,100 *
3. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 9,688 * AQ
4. Gina Crawford (NZL) 9,325 *
5. Caroline Steffen (SUI) 9,250 *
6. Liz Blatchford (AUS) 9,200 *
7. Yvonne Van Vlerken (NED) 8,595 *
8. Caitlin Snow (USA) 8,005 *
9. Elizabeth Lyles (USA) 7,860 *
10. Linsey Corbin (USA) 7,755 *
11. Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) 7,250 * AQ
12. Catriona Morrison (GBR) 6,240 *
13. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 6,210 *
14. Åsa Lundström (SWE) 6,090 *
15. Kristin Möller (GER) 5,750 *
16. Lucy Gossage (GBR) 5,600 *
17. Michelle Vesterby (DEN) 5,525 *
18. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 5,390 *
19. Natascha Badmann (SUI) 5,335 *
20. Julia Gajer (GER) 5,310 *
21. Lisa Roberts (USA) 5,285 *
22. Corinne Abraham (GBR) 5,280 *
23. Simone Brändli (SUI) 5,240 *
24. Amanda Stevens (USA) 5,175 *
25. Kimberly Schwabenbauer (USA) 5,050 *
26. Bree Wee (USA) 5,040
27. Heather Wurtele (CAN) 5,000 *
28. Jessie Donavan (USA) 5,000 *
29. Annabel Luxford (AUS) 4,980
30. Kelly Williamson (USA) 4,975 *
31. Katja Konschak (GER) 4,915 *
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32. Angela Naeth (CAN) 4,890 *
33. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 4,810 *
34. Lisa Hütthaler (AUT) 4,665 *
35. Amy Marsh (USA) 4,640 *
