TAMPA, Fla. (April 28, 2015) – The 2015 IRONMAN^® 70.3^® regional championship series will continue with this weekend’s 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George triathlon and will feature some of the most prestigious names in the world of triathlon.

Headlining the women’s race is current IRONMAN World Champion Mirinda Carfrae (AUS). Carfrae will set her sights on the prestigious IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship title along with an incredibly talented field of pro women. Jodie Swallow (GBR), fresh off of her IRONMAN African Championship win, and American Meredith Kessler, 2013 IRONMAN 70.3 U.S.  Pro Champion, will all face off for the championship. Also in the mix for the women’s field are Heather Wurtele (CAN), Rachel Joyce (GBR), Mary Beth Ellis (USA) and Heather Jackson (USA), each of whom have multiple IRONMAN 70.3 wins.

The men’s professional field is just as strong and also features the reigning IRONMAN World Champion Sebastian Kienle (DEU), who will take on an impressive field of challengers. American Ben Hoffman, who took home third at the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, will be sure to give Kienle and others a battle for the crown. Brent McMahon (CAN), 2014 runner-up in St. George, is a strong contender along with 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Champion Tim Don (GBR). Also vying for the IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship is Australian Luke McKenzie, who finished second at the 2013 GoPro IRONMAN World Championship.

“We are thrilled with the level of talent that will be present at the 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George and look forward to what is sure to be one of the most competitive races on the IRONMAN 70.3 circuit this year,” said Christopher Stadler, Chief Marketing Officer for IRONMAN.

An automatic bid to the 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship will be on the line as all professional winners of each 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 Regional Championship race receive automatic qualification to the 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship held in Zell am See-Kaprun, SalzburgerLand, Austria on August 30, 2015. The IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George race will also offer a $100,000 prize purse to male and female professionals which will be distributed amongst the first through tenth place finishers.

In addition to the competitive professional field, nearly 3,000 age-group athletes are expected to compete at this year’s IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George. The race will offer 30 coveted age-group qualifying slots to the 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.

For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com.