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Clash Daytona: Blummenfelt ready to blast, close women’s race

A chance to meet some of the pre-race favourites at Clash Daytona at today's press conference

Photo by: Clash Daytona

There’s US$100,000 up for grabs, along with some very valuable air time on the Facebook Live coverage and the post-race NBC show that will air on networks around the world, including TSN in Canada. Today we got to see four of the pre-race favourites in the men’s and women’s field discuss their race plans at today’s press conference.

American Jackie Hering is, on paper, the woman to beat in Daytona tomorrow. She’s the highest ranked woman in the PTO standings in the race and is renowned for her excellent running skills that typically propel her to a top finish. Photo: Clash Daytona
After a tough year in which she lost her father, Great Britain’s Jodie Stimpson won Challenge Miami, then had a number of injuries that sidelined her for much of the rest of the year. She’s been training well here in Florida for a few weeks now and appears ready for another big day on a Nascar track. Photo: Clash Daytona
It’s been an amazing year for Great Britain’s Lucy Hall, who has claimed three half-distance titles already, including a big win at the Challenge Championship in August. Can the 2012 Olympian use her “race-from-the-front” strategy for another win here in Daytona? Photo: Clash Daytona
American super-mom Meredith Kessler is a veteran in the sport with 11 Ironman and 11 70.3 wins on her resume. She is just recovering from the COVID-19 virus – has she bounced back enough to be in the mix tomorrow? Photo: Challenge Daytona
American Andrew Starykowicz suffered a burst eardrum after being kicked during the swim at the World Triathlon Long Distance World Championships in Almere. A few nights ago he suffered a bike crash here in Daytona, but appears determined to be on the start line and in the mix tomorrow. Photo: Clash Daytona
Kristian Blummenfelt, the Olympic gold medalist, the defending World Triathlon Championship Series champion and a recent 7:21 Ironman finisher, is determined to keep his big year of racing going here in Daytona. He says he’s recovered well after his Ironman race in Cozumel and is ready to round out the season with another win. Photo: Clash Daytona
Even though he’s only a couple of months post surgery, Matt Hanson is back on the start line – the same start line where he ran his way to a runner-up finish a year ago at the PTO 2020 Championship here in Daytona. Can the American claim another podium here tomorrow?
Ben Kanute, a four-time winner of the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, will certainly be one of the men to watch here in Daytona tomorrow. He’s a strong swimmer and cyclist and, when he’s on, can post some fast run splits, too. On paper he and fellow American Rudy Von Berg are the most likely Americans to challenge Blummenfelt for the win. Photo: Clash Daytona