COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The ITU World Triathlon San Diego will present a unique opportunity for age-group triathletes to race alongside two of the sport's all-time greats, as Ironman World Champion and 2012 USA Triathlon Hall of Fame inductee Scott Molina and Olympic bronze medalist Susan Williams have committed to race in the age-group ranks at the May 10-12 event.
"It has been about 25 years since I last raced in San Diego - way too long," Molina said. "I vividly recall living and racing there in the Eighties in the center of the triathlon world. I'm sure the weekend's events will be a massive celebration of the sport, and I'm really looking forward to being part of it."
In his competitive days, Molina notched 104 professional triathlon victories, six USA Triathlon Elite National Championships - including four straight from 1983-86 - the 1988 Ironman World Championship and a pair of World's Toughest Triathlon titles. A father of three and grandfather of one, Molina married fellow professional triathlete Erin Baker in 1990. He resides in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he has worked as a triathlon coach since 1995.
"I am very excited to race where the first triathlon took place and toe the line alongside fellow age-group athletes, then sit back and watch our top elites vie for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team," Williams said.
The ITU World Triathlon San Diego's scenic race venue is adjacent to Fiesta Island, which hosted the world's first-ever triathlon on Sept. 25, 1974. Held in conjunction with one of just eight elite ITU World Triathlon Series events in 2012, top-flight Olympic- and sprint-distance age-group races, as well as an Olympic-distance relay, will offer amateurs the chance to compete in the same epic venue as the world's best athletes.
Race-day action for age-groupers is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 with the age-group Olympic-distance and relay races at 6:30 a.m., followed by the sprint-distance event at 9:30 a.m.
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