Pros who made the Kona field
After the first Kona Pro Rankings cutoff on July 24, men scrambled for the final 10 slots and women for the final 7 places at the 2016 Ironman World Championship pro start line. After races from July 25 through August 21 at key venues including Ironman Vineman, Ironman Maastricht-Limburg, Ironman Mt. Tremblant, Ironman Copenhagen, and Ironman Sweden – plus a few key 70.3 races – here are the men and women who scrambled into the Big Dance at Kona.
Following an account of the last minute heroes, please find a complete list of the pro men and pro women who earned a start at Kona at the end of this article.
Latest additions to the Men’s Kona Lineup
Andreas Raelert had plenty of points (7,200 and 9th place in KPR rankings as of July 24), but he was a last minute addition to the field with his 7th place finish at Ironman Copenhagen on August 21, which validated his qualification.
William Clarke of Great Britain lagged 1,000 points behind a qualifying spot on July 24, but his 1,600 points for his 2nd place finish at Ironman Copenhagen on August 21 raised him to 37th in KPR points and secured his Kona spot.
Paul Matthews of Australia was short of a Kona slot with 3,225 points until he scored 960 for a 4th place finish at Ironman Mt. Tremblant, which raised his KPR standing to 39th and secured a Kona slot.
Kyle Buckingham of South Africa lagged well out of a Kona slot before the July 24 cutoff with 1,840 points, until he won 2000 KPR points at Ironman Vineman on July 29 and vaulted to 45th place in the KPR standings and won a place on the Kona start line.
Igor Amorelli of Brazil was way out of contention for a Kona slot with 1,085 KPR points after the July 24 first cutoff. But he got very busy in the last month, winning 2000 points at Ironman Maastricht-Limburg on August 6 and 720 points for 5th place at Ironman Copenhagen on August 21, to advance to 46th in KPR standing and a date at Kona.
Jordan Rapp of the U.S. had just 2,170 KPR points before he finished 2nd at Ironman Mt. Tremblant and boosted his KPR total to 3,770 and 49th place and earned a place at the Big Dance in Hawaii.
Harry Wiltshire of Great Britain just squeaked into the Kona field with a 2nd pro finish at Ironman 70.3 Dublin on August 14 which earned 400 points and advanced him to 50th in the KPR standings.
Fabio Carvalho of Brazil was out of a Kona start with 2,460 KPR points before he finished 3rd at Ironman Copenhagen, added 1,280 points to finish 51st in the KPR standings, and earn a Kona start.
Chris Leiferman of the U.S. earned a Kona slot in spectacular fashion, garnering 2,000 points for his rookie victory at Ironman Mt. Tremblant, advancing him to 56th place in KPR men’s standings.
However, Leiferman says he will decline his spot – he wants more Ironman experience before taking the plunge.
Late additions to the Kona women’s lineup
Mary Beth Ellis of the U.S. advanced from 50th in KPR standings on July 24 to 14th on the KPR list with wins at Ironman Maastricht and Ironman Mt. Tremblant.
Kristin Moeller of Germany advanced from 3,145 points and 60th place in KPR standings to 35th in KPR standings and a Kona slot with a 2,000 point win at Ironman Sweden on August 21.
Saleta Castro Nogueria of Spain advanced to 37th place and 4,770 KPR points with her 2nd place finish at Ironman Maastricht which punched her ticket to Kona.,
Laurel Wassner of the U.S. leapfrogged from 71st place and 2,330 points to 3,930 points and 47th in the women's KPR standings with her 2nd place at Ironman Mt. Tremblant.
Barring last minute withdrawals, here are the pro men’s and women’s Kona start lists.
Pro Men
1. Jan Frodeno (GER) 15,250 points * Automatic Qualifier defending champion
2. Sebastian Kienle (GER) 12,440 * Ironman Regional Champion
3. Brent McMahon (CAN) 10,615 * Ironman Regional Champion
4. Andy Potts (USA) 9,520
5. Timothy Van Berkel (AUS) 8,985 * Ironman Regional Champion
6. Eneko Llanos (ESP) 8,525
7. Lionel Sanders (CAN) 7,895
8. Timothy O’Donnell (USA) 7,760
9. Andreas Raelert (GER) 7,605
10. Tyler Butterfield (BER) 7,605
11. Boris Stein (GER) 7,525
12. Tim Don (GBR) 7,025
13. Andi Bocherer (GER) 6,870
14. Matthew Russell (USA) 6,650
15. Cyril Viennot (FRA) 6,170
16. David Dellow (AUS) 5,975
17. Patrick Lange (GER) 5,640 * Ironman Regional champion
18. Ben Hoffman (USA) 5,605 * Ironman Regional Champion
19. Marko Albert (EST) 5,550
20. Tim Reed (AUS) 5,335
21. James Cunnama (RSA) 5,225
22. Kevin Collington (USA) 5,035
23. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 4,945
24. Bart Aernouts (BEL) 4,865
25. Stefan Schmid GER) 4,740
26. Luke McKenzie (AUS) 4,675
27. Markus Thomschke (GER) 4,605
28. Timo Bracht (GER) 4,595
29. David McNamee (GBR) 4,590
30. Jesse Thomas (USA) 4,545
32. David Plese (SVN) 4,460
33. Alessandro Degasperi (ITA) 4,460
34. Ruedi Wild (SUI) 4,435
35. Michael Weiss (AUT) 4,415
36. Pedro Gomes (PRT) 4,397
37. William Clarke (GBR) 4,230
38. Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) 4,190
39. Paul Matthews (AUS) 4,185
40. Kirill Kotsegarov (EST) 4,068
41. Mauro Baertsch (SUI) 4,025
42. Ivan Raña (ESP) 3,990
43. Bertrand Billard (FRA) 3,990
44. Joe Skipper (GBR) 3,935
45. Kyle Buckingham (RSA) 3,840
46. Igor Amorelli (BRA) 3,805
47. Christian Kramer (GER) 3,780
48. Andrej Vistica (HRV) 3,770
49. Jordan Rapp (USA) 3,770
50. Harry Wiltshire (GBR) 3,760
51. Fabio Carvalho (BRA) 3,740
52. Denis Chevrot (FRA) 3,735
53. Jan Van Berkel (NED) 3,735
54. Trevor Wurtele (CAN) 3,725
55. Per Bittner (GER) 3,620
57. Jens Petersen-Bach (DEN) 3,610
58. Callum Millward (NZL) 3,580
68. Pete Jacobs (AUS) 3,055 * Recent former champion validated
70. Frederik Val Lierde (BEL) 2,980 * Recent former champion validated
Men who qualified but declined
31. Matt Trautman (RSA)
56. Chris Leiferman (USA)
Men who have qualified but have not yet submitted their acceptance. All three have indicated they will accept.
43. Bertrand Billard (FRA)
45. Kyle Buckingham (RSA)
49. Jordan Rapp (USA)
Pro Women
1. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 15,250 * Defending champion * Ironman Regional Champion
2. Susie Cheetham (GBR) 10,460
3. Sarah Piampiano (USA) 9,390
4. Heather Jackson (USA) 8,790
5. Lucy Gossage (GBR) 8,740
7. Julia Gajer (GER) 7,705 7,705 * Ironman Regional Champion
9. Gurutz Frades (ESP) 7,070
11. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 6,945 * Ironman Regional Champion
12. Kaisa Lehtonen (FIN) 6,925 * Ironman Regional Champion
13. Camilla Pedersen (DEN) 6,730
14. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 6,720
15. Lisa Roberts (USA) 6,715
16. Anja Beranek (GER) 6,625
17. Michelle Vesterby (DEN) 6,605
18. Annabel Luxford (AUS) 6,580
19. Asa Lundström (SWE) 6,575
20. Elizabeth Lyles (USA) 6,525 * Ironman Regional Champion
21. Meredith Kessler (USA) 6,475
22. Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) 6,250 * Ironman Regional Champion
23. Sarah Crowley (AUS) 6,185
24. Katja Konschak (GER) 6,140
25. Alicia Kaye (USA) 6,055
26. Heather Wurtele (CAN) 5,910
27. Mareen Hufe (GER) 5,750
28. Linsey Corbin (USA) 5,590
29. Tine Deckers (BEL) 5,440
31. Daniela Sämmler (GER) 5,290
33. Yvonne Van Vlerken (NED) 5,200
34. Tine Holst (DEN) 5,185
35. Kristin Moeller (GER) 5,145
36. Verena Walter (GER) 5,100
37. Saleta Castro Nogueria (ESP) 4,770
38. Ariane Monticeli (BRA) 4,715
39. Dimity-Lee Duke (AUS) 4,680
41. Alexandra Tondeur (BEL) 4,530
43. Carrie Lester (AUS) 4,420
44. Jodie Robertson (USA) 4,305
45. Bianca Steurer (AUT) 4,090
46. Natascha Schmitt (GER) 4,060
47. Laurel Wassner (USA) 3,930
49. Michaela Herlbauer (AUT) 3,865
51. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 3,690 * Recent former champion validated
52. Leanda Cave (GBR) 3,520 * Recent former champion validated
Women who have qualified but have not yet sent acceptance to Ironman
46. Natascha Schmitt (GER)
47. Laurel Wassner (USA) Wassner said she will accept.
If Schmitt declines, the next in line is 50. Emma-Kate Lidbury (GBR). After her is 53. Diana Riesler (GER).
Women who failed to validate or declined Kona entry
6. Rachel Joyce (GBR) – declined
8. Liz Blatchford (AUS) – injured, declined
10. Caroline Steffen (SUI) – did not validate
30. Emma Bilham (SUI) – declined
32. Michelle Bremer (NZL) – declined
40. Magali Tisseyre (CAN) – did not validate
42. Beth Gerdes (USA) – injured, declined
48. Annah Watkinson (RSA) – declined
