World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) has confirmed that general entry registration for the third annual Ironman 70.3 Centrair Tokoname Japan will open on 31 January 2012. With this being the only Ironman World Championship qualifier in the region, race organizers have added additional entries; however, as in previous years, a sell-out is anticipated within just a few hours.
While there might not be a full Ironman distance race in Asia this year, the Japan event offers Asian athletes an opportunity to qualify for the Ironman World Championship this year. This year’s event will offer 30 qualifying spots for the Ironman World Championships in Kona and 25 slots for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada.
Scheduled for 24 June 2012, Lixil Ironman 70.3 Centrair Tokoname Japan will be staged in and around the Centrair International Airport, providing easy access to the race for visitors travelling from across the globe – with direct flights from Singapore, Frankfurt and Detroit.
Athletes will begin the race with a point-to-point swim at Ise Bay in the Pacific Ocean. The 1.5-loop bike course will see some changes in 2012, leading to a smoother and faster route through Tokoname city. The final leg of the course features a spectator friendly one-loop run with athletes finishing on the beach.
The event is one of nearly 60 in the global Ironman 70.3 Series. The event date was moved earlier in the season to accommodate the addition of the 30 coveted age group qualifying slots to the 2012 Ironman World Championship, scheduled for 13 October 2012, in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i.
These slots will give Asia-Pacific athletes additional opportunities to make it to the starting line on Ali’i Drive in Kona. Professional athletes will be competing in Japan for a prize purse of US$15,000.
