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While missing some of the top Europeans, the PTO US Open still offers some big-name draws

Ashleigh Gentle, Paula Findlay, Taylor Knibb and Chelsea Sodaro highlight women's field in Milwaukee

Photo by: PTO
July 11, 2023
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The upcoming Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) US Open might not feature a few of the biggest names in women’s long-distance racing at present – Challenge Roth winner Daniela Ryf, PTO European champ Anne Haug and the always competitive Lucy Charles Barclay – but that doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to some speedy racing when the women hit the water in Milwaukee on Saturday, Aug. 5 for the 100 km race (2 km swim, 80 km bike and 18 km run).

PTO, an organization started to help long-distance athletes, won’t operate races longer than 100km

Australian PTO #1 Ashleigh Gentle highlights the field, but she’ll have lots of competition, especially from a strong North American contingent led by Canadian Paula Findlay. Add to the North American crew the firepower of reigning Ironman world champ Chelsea Sodaro and fellow running speedster Tamara Jewett, while the European contingent is bolstered by the likes of Laura Philipp (GER), along with Great Britain’s Holly Lawrence and Kat Matthews.

Here’s a list of the confirmed automatic qualifiers for the race in Milwaukee:

  1. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
  2. Paula Findlay (CAN)
  3. Taylor Knibb (USA)
  4. Chelsea Sodaro (USA)
  5. Laura Philipp (GER)
  6. Holly Lawrence (GBR)
  7. Tamara Jewett (CAN)
  8. Kat Matthews (GBR)
  9. Skye Moench (USA)
  10. India Lee (GBR)
  11. Jocelyn McCauley (USA)
  12. Marjolaine Pierré (FRA)
  13. Sarah True (USA)
  14. Maja Stage Nielsen (DEN)
  15. Jackie Hering (USA)
  16. Ellie Salthouse (AUS)
  17. Danielle Lewis (USA)
  18. Rebecca Clarke (NZL)
  19. Jeanni Metzler (SA)
  20. Anne Reischmann (GER)
  21. Lucy Byram (GBR)
  22. Rach McBride (CAN)
  23. Haley Chura (USA)
  24. Ruth Astle (GBR)

The prize money for the entire event (both men and women) is US$600,000, with the winner taking home $100,000, runner-up earning $50,000 and third place winning $35,000.

The PTO racing will be mixed in with the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships, which will include over 7,000 participants. This should be a boon to the PTO’s spectator issues as 20,000 spectators are expected to attend the week’s racing.

There are still four wildcards to be named to the women’s field – they will be announced on Thursday. The men’s field will be announced tomorrow.