Shelly Harper then biked a 2:54 and ran a 3:16 for a 6:44 half. She swam through 1500 competitors then got passed by half the field. Can you say on your left.

Dev, I don't see that it was any easier before to qualify, at least not in my age group when I made it. I was not fortunate in the least to qualify....I worked harder and longer and raced smarter. It took me many, many years in the sport to get to that point (raced for 18 years to get there). That made it all the more valuable to me. We just agree to disagree I guess. Have great day!

Gary, I think it is easy for those of us who have raced Kona to say, "keep the qualifying tough". If people don't qualify too bad...should have trained harder. Really easy to say that when you are one of the fortunate ones who go to race in Kona especially in a former era when qualifying was easier and the race was less globally competitive. I don' tthink a 3000 person field would water anything down. it will be still tough and very "exclusive" (if that is what you want). I'd personally rather see many of my friends have an easier shot. It was much easier when races were 80 slot versus 50 or 30. It was still tough and will still remain tough.

I had athletes race about 12 different IM events last year around the globe so I'm basing this on that and that the bulk of those were in the M30-45 AG's. Roll downs never went beyond 1-2 slots in those events and in many didn't roll at all. IMCabo this year rolled down 2 slots in the M40-44 to 8th. Last year 9th there in 2 different Ag's didn't get you close to a slot, zero roll downs in those AGs. IMSA 1 roll down M40-44 last year. IMMelb zero roll down in W35-39, Mandurah 70.3 and IMWA 1 roll down F40-44 bc winner already qualified. Most AUS races had zero to 1 roll down. Before top 10 punched your ticket, now often 6th in the AG leaves you at home instead of working on your tan in HI.

Even in the past when there were 10-12 they rolled sometimes down to 16-17th. Now if you finish out of top 10 in the AG you're not even sniffing a roll down. It's only going to get worse until they expand the field as they add IM's. If you take away all the slots at say Eagleman & Madurah 70.3 that may add 1 slot to every IM, maybe.

You've got to be at least 10-15 min faster on avg than 10 years ago to even look at a slot unless you're Powerball lottery ticket lucky.

I do agree that on the AG front you're seeing some dilution of the fields, but they've also diluted the slots. You're still a stud/studette if you're getting a slot. WTC events are among the most competitive AG races on the planet outside of nationals, Roth & some of the biggest Oly's in various countries. But I'd still argue that it's harder to KQ now than say 10 years ago.

On the pro side I think you can make a strong argument that Rev 3 fields are more competitive than the avg 70.3 field. But that is a different thread for a different day.

Anyway everything above is based on my narrow view of KQ where it impacts my athletes the most. others might have a different view.

So, WTC is saying that they're doing, in part, to reduce drafting.

Well, how is adding another 1000 people to the race going to reduce drafting, even with wave starts?

Dev, does this mean that you accept that the "times have changed" regarding enforcing drafting in Kona and other large events? I have no problems with larger fields in IM events if they are willing to eliminate mass starts and alter the midnight finish cutoff tradition in order to spread out the larger fields.

As far as separating the men and women AGers in Kona this year, I would hope there would be at least 15 minutes between the two waves. If not, I don't believe WTC is concerned with reducing drafting in a way that truly would have an impact on the AG podium battles.

We are splitting hairs...


I just like the mass swim start in regards to tradition. I just wish the WTC didn't mess with Kona..period...

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Waves often flatten bike performance and can be extremely dangerous. Fast cyclists starting in later waves spend their ride sitting up, heralding their impending passes, yelling to struggling riders from earlier waves to move over, and breaking behind traffic jams. The fast riders pass earlier waves at a dangerous speed discrepancy that justifiably terrifies everyone involved. Is there a safer wave structure that shifts importance more toward the swim and bike rather than crippling them?

Waves often flatten bike performance and can be extremely dangerous. Fast cyclists starting in later waves spend their ride sitting up, heralding their impending passes, yelling to struggling riders from earlier waves to move over, and breaking behind traffic jams. The fast riders pass earlier waves at a dangerous speed discrepancy that justifiably terrifies everyone involved. Is there a safer wave structure that shifts importance more toward the swim and bike rather than crippling them?

My wife has complained about guys re-passing her and then slowing down for years. It happens so often that she expects it now.
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FWIW- I don't get that male-ego driven attitude that says you can't be passed by womens in a race either. The smarter behavior is to let them pass and hang back the required distance. There you can reap the benefits of a legal draft plus you can camp out and enjoy the view. It's win-win.