2012 ITU World Triathlon Series Returns to Triathlon's Birthplace in San Diego

San Diego, California, USA (8 May 2012) - It's a special weekend for ITU racing at the second round of the ITU World Triathlon Series this year. Not only is it a brand new course on the circuit and one of the final Olympic Qualification events before London, but this event marks the first time an ITU race held in San Diego, the birthplace of modern triathlon. San Diego becomes the second U.S. city to host a round of the series after Washington, D.C. in 2009.

In terms of the racing, Olympic qualification will weigh heavy on plenty, but expect the podium fight to be fierce. In the women's race, Great Britain's Helen Jenkins started 2012 where she left off in 2011, and it's becoming hard to bet against her making the podium in the World Triathlon Series. Her main competition is set to be Australians Erin Densham, Emma Snowsill, Emma Jackson, and Emma Moffatt, U.S athletes Sarah Groff, Gwen Jorgensen and Switzerland's Daniela Ryf. In the men's race Jonathan Brownlee makes his season debut, but there are plenty of contenders like Joao Silva, Sven Reiderer, Ivan Vasiliev, Brad Kahlefeldt, Brendan Sexton, Mario Mola, Richard Murray, Simon Whitfield, Matt Chrabot and the New Zealand Olympic men's team of Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell and Ryan Sissons. Click here to read the full preview

About the race:
Settled by Spaniards in 1769, San Diego was the first of the California Missions, founded by Father Junipero Serra in order to Christianize Native Americans. What is now known as California, including San Diego, became part of Mexico when it achieved independence from Spain in 1821. After the United States victory in the Battle of San Pasqual, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo surrendered California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to the United States. San Diego became a city on March 27, 1850 with elected and appointed officials. It now has a population of over 3 million, and is one of the most vibrant cities in America. The Mission Bay area, where the triathlon venue is, the Mission Bay Park includes playgrounds, picnic areas, 27 miles of paths and Fiesta Island for waterspots, as well as theme parks.

WEBSITE:
sandiego.triathlon.org