My Kona Picks...

Hi All,

Just to be for the record, here are my late-breaking Kona Top 10 Predictions. They are guaranteed to be 100% inaccurate!

The Men
1. Craig Alexander - repeat. He'll be invisible as the top cyclists go nuts on the bike but will run everybody down. Again.

2. Gut tells me Eneko Llanos, but he won't be second again. So instead I'll pick Timo Bracht as breakthrough German of the year.

3. Marino Vanhoenacker - some one off the radar for the final podium spot.

4. Rasmus Henning - uber talent can run a ton, and hopefully he doesnt lose his chance for top 10 with a bad swim after breaking his hand about a month ago.

5. Chris McCormack - I think he doesn't have the blazing speed anymore to hang out near the top of the race in the end.

6. Chris Lieto - i anticipate a huge bike, and then a decent start to the run before the very fast runners come flying by.

7. Eneko Llanos - so consistent, but not this year. I think.

8. Terrenzo Bozzone - future of the sport. I expect him to lead at some point on Saturday - just not when it matters.

9. Matthias Hecht - another under-the-radar German who will consistently hang out with big guns.

10. Patrick Vernay - one last top-10 for him

Notable omissions from top 10 that make up the next 10 (although a few DNFs will be in this group): Andy Potts, Cam Brown, Norman Stadler (this one pains me), Faris Al-Sultan, Ronnie Schildknecht, Andreas Raelert, Tim Deboom,Philip Graves, Mike Lovato and Reinaldo Colucci.

The Women


1. Chrissie. #1 fave until she gets beaten. And that might not happen for a long time.

2. Rebekah Keat- the new Aussie star.

3. Yvonne Van Vlerken - second last year, will come from way back to end up third this year.

4. Mirinda Carfrae - 4th in her Ironman debut? Has the speed on the bike and run to mirror Chrissie, but can she last 140.6 miles?

5. Bella Comerford Bayliss - could be her breakthrough year into the top 5.

6. Cat Morrison - might be a nice battle between her and Bayliss for 2nd best GBR finish. Morrison might need 1 practice run at Kona before becoming a podium threat next year.

7. Kate Major - always seems to be in the mix in Kona

8. Tereza Macel - two summer Ironman victories will take a bit out of her legs, but she'll still be around for much of the day

9. Sandra Wallenhorst- No reason she can't finish 3rd again, but I think she'll slide a bit in 09.

10. Sam McGlone - an injury plagued couple of years will end with her second top 10 in Kona.

Notable omissions : Erika Csomor, Belinda Granger, Michellie Jones, Natasha Badmann, Gina Ferguson, Jo Lawn, Leanda Cave, and Linsey Corbin. The women's field is loaded...