Wildflower Triathlons, one of the most historic race series in the sport’s history, will host several elite, world-class triathletes competing for the championship against each other and the merciless elements surrounding Lake San Antonio. Presented with a modified drought-tolerant course for the third year in a row, both the Men’s and Women’s 2015 Wildflower Champions will return to defend their title while conquering one of the toughest courses in triathlon.
Alongside Wildflower’s challenging Long Course triathlon, Tri-California hosts a weekend festival of entertainment and celebration for both spectators and athletes. The Wildflower Triathlon is one of the largest racing events in the world that has attracted up to 7,500 athletes and 30,000 spectators. Adding to the excitement is the dramatic competition amongst some of the greatest athletes in the world.
For the last five consecutive years, professional triathlete, Jesse Thomas of Bend, Oregon, has dominated the men’s field and now holds the record for the most Wildflower wins. Thomas will race again on Saturday, April 30th, with his eye on an unprecedented 6th championship. No doubt Thomas knows he must bring his best to the starting line, as he will be competing again against his hometown buddy, and last year’s second place finisher, Matt Lieto. Thomas and Lieto had nearly identical swim and bike splits during last year’s race but Thomas was able to gain a few minutes on the run to solidify the lead.
Thomas and Lieto will also be contending with the strength of an impressive pro field. Wildflower’s 2006 Champion and current course record holder, Terrenzo Bozzone of New Zealand, will be returning to this year’s starting line. Bozzone is a five-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion who has proven to be a dominating force in this distance. Bozzone earned top three finishes in all six of his 2015 Ironman 70.3 races and will be charging to add another win on race day.
Adding to a powerful men’s lineup is David Giardini, who had the fastest swim split of the day at last year’s race and then went on to out bike all of the competition, earning the fastest bike split as well. Giardini will be joined by top pros, Chris Lieferman, Thomas Gerlach, Derek Garcia and Matty Reed as they all compete for a coveted spot on the podium.
The women’s elite field will welcome back Wildflower’s 2015 Champion, Liz Lyles of Reno, Nevada. Lyles nabbed the title from consecutive three-time champion, Heather Jackson also of Bend, Oregon, in a dramatic sprint finish that resulted in Jackson collapsing in the finisher’s chute. While Jackson won’t be racing Wildflower this year, the level of competition in the women’s field is sure to demand the best from all competing, including Lyles.
Laurel Wassner of New Paltz, New York, who is the first cancer survivor to become a professional triathlete, will be returning to race her third Wildflower Triathlon. Wassner won her first pro race in 2010 at the Columbia Triathlon and placed 5th at Wildflower last year. Emily Cocks, of Napa, California, will race again this year, after a 7th place finish last year that was followed up by an impressive second place finish at Tri-California’s 2015 Pacific Grove Triathlon in September.
“We’re thrilled with the elite competitors joining us this year, and most of them are no strangers to the Wildflower Triathlons, one of the toughest and most beautiful long courses in the world,” said Colleen Bousman, president of Tri-California Events. “Even with another year of challenge in modifying the course due to drought, we’re confident our amateur competitors will be excited about the prospect of competing on the same course with some of the world’s best triathletes and Wildflower legends. It’ll be an exciting field.”
The Wildflower Triathlons’ modified drought-tolerant long course race includes a 1.2-mile swim, 2 mile run, a 56-mile bike leg, and a cross-country, paved 11 mile run.
2016 Wildflower MEN’S Elite Athletes:
Christopher Bagg – Portland, OR
Chris Baird – San Francisco, CA
AJ Baucco - Cleveland, OH
Terenzo Bozzone – Hidden Hills, CA
Nicholas Chase – St. Petersburg, FL
James Cook – Victoria, BC
Ben Collins - Chicago, IL
Sam Corace – Carlsbad, CA
Justin Daerr – Boulder, CO
John Dahlz – Daly City, CA
Nathan Dressel – Park City, UT
Andrew Drobeck – Missoula, MT
Alistar Eeckman - Berkeley, CA
Charlie Epperson
Derek Garcia – Coeur D’Alene, ID
Thomas Gerlach – Madison, WI
Davide Giardini - Boulder, CO
Yu Hsiao – Cupertino, CA
Tyler Jordan – Scottsdale, AZ
Nathan Killam – Vancouver, CAN
Andrew Langfield – Portland, OR
Chris Leiferman – Longmont, CO
Matt Lieto – Bend, OR
Steve Mantell - Fort Collins, CO
Matthew Organista – Carpinteria, CA
Jason Pederson – Porter Rancho, CA
Branden Rakita – Colorado Springs, CO
Matthew Reed – Cardiff, CA
Thomas Roos - Palo Alto, CA
Matthew Russell – Ogdensburg, NY
Alexander Schilling – Dresden, GER
Jesse Thomas – Bend, OR
Maik Twelsiek – Tuscon, AZ
Jesse Vondracek – Tuscon, AZ
Shawn Wilyman – Victoria, BC
2016 Wildflower WOMEN’S Elite Athletes:
Emily Cocks – Napa, CA
Alyssa Godesky – Charlottesville, VA
Erin Green – Boise, ID
Kelly Kosmo - Goleta, CA
Cathleen Knutson – Seattle, WA
Kara LaPoint – Truckee, CA
Elizabeth Lyles – Reno, NV
Mackenzie Madison – Springfield, OR
Leslie Miller – Reston, VA
Julie Patterson – Richmond, VA
Robin Pomeroy – Folsom, CA
Jessica Smith – Redwood City,
Amy VanTassel – Portland, OR
Nicole Valentine – Germantown, MD
Laurel Wassner – New Paltz, NY
Kelly Withrow