Challenge Daytona sees surge in entries after Ironman cancels Florida event
Daytona sees surge of almost 200 entries after Florida 70.3 event cancelled
Photo by:
Jose Luis Hourcade
This weekend’s Challenge Daytona event will see almost 3,000 competitors in all the various events including the PTO 2020 Championship tomorrow. Today’s half-distance race enjoyed a slew of new entries and athletes moving up from the sprint to the half-distance after Ironman’s announcement on November 23 that it wouldn’t host any more events in 2020, including Ironman 70.3 Florida, which takes place in Haines City, about 150 km from Daytona Beach.
After news of the cancellation got out, Challenge Daytona received almost 100 new entries that day, and over the next couple of days saw entries increase by almost 200.
The Challenge Daytona festival kicked off yesterday with a Pro Am event. Today will see athletes compete in a half-distance that will include duathlon and aqua-bike races, along with five and 10 km runs and a kids race.
Tomorrow’s racing includes a sprint-distance triathlon along with the PTO 2020 Championship with its $1.15 million prize purse.
Related: Triathlon’s million-dollar bonanza
