Champion Australian triathlete Caleb Noble has given a ringing endorsement of the Coral Sea Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon, happening on July 29 and 30 saying, "If I could pick my dream location anywhere in the world to race and spend a week recovering it would have to be Airlie Beach, Heart of the Great Barrier Reef!"
Noble is a professional triathlete who races all around the world and has multiple top 10 finishes at ITU Triathlon World Cup races to his name and fittingly he will be defending his crown at this year's event.
But he will be facing stiff opposition in 2023 from two-time lronman winner Tim Berkel, last year's runner-up Sam Betten, and local star triathlete Dan McDonnell who finished third in 2022.
The female field is equally strong and includes Radka Kahlefeldt who placed second at the Cairns lronman recently, Kate Bevilaqua, Jasmine Brown, Cassie Healslip, Penny Slater, who placed third in Cairns lronman, Chloe Hartnett, and Kaitlyn lllingworth.
Coral Sea Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon race director Mick Kimpton said the 2023 event signalled a new era for the race with ambitious plans to expand it to be one of the feature races on the Australian triathlon calendar.
"There are not many places in the world where endurance meets the reef and our small committee is working hard to grow the race into a hallmark event for Whitsundays which would deliver a major boost for the regional economy benefitting local businesses," he said.
"l recently returned from Europe, after racing in several events and took time to meet with the European based Challenge Family who currently stage 35 races in 27 countries around the world.
"It is early days in talks, but the Challenge Family core values of vitality, passion and inclusiveness perfectly align with our club, so it is a match made in heaven.
"It is imperative we expand our local event, and our committee are determined to leave no stone unturned to make the race a premier event on the Australian circuit," Mr Kimpton said.
"This year we have introduced a new course which is safer and more scenic, and the weekend will culminate in our first Champions Dinner on Sunday night to recognise all the athletes and sponsors."
The Coral Sea Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival will kick off on Saturday July 29 with the junior events before moving to the corporate teams event, Enticer, Sprint and Olympic distance races on Sunday.
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