Courtesy: USAT

International Triathlon Union (ITU) points races in St. Kitt's and Puerto Vallarta on Sunday will give U.S. elites a chance to improve their world rankings and earn points toward Olympic qualification in 2004.

Thirty-six U.S. pros are on the start list for the St. Kitt's International Triathlon in the Caribbean.

Jessi Stensland (San Diego, Calif.), who won the women's race last year, will try to defend her title. Other top American women on the start list include Laurie Hug (Ambler, Pa.), Alison Hayden (Dade City, Fla.), Nicole DeBoom (Lyons, Colo.), Desiree Ficker (Potomac, Md.) and Amanda Pagon (Glenn Dale, Md.).

On the men's side, Brent Perdrizet (New Fairfield, Conn.), Bryan Beckman (Eldorado Hills, Calif.), Greg Remaly (Bloomsburg, Pa.) and Paul Fritzche (Boulder, Colo.) are among the U.S. men on the start list.

Martin Krnavek of the Czech Republic is scheduled to return to defend his title and New Zealand's Matt Reed, who finished second in 2001, is also on the start list.

The St. Kitt's web site is at www.stkittstriathlon.com.

In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Jennifer Gutierrez (Littleton, Colo.), a 2000 Olympic team member, will try to defend the Puerto title she won in 2001. Janelle Bakke (Puyallup, Wash.) is scheduled to join her.

The Puerto Vallarta web site is www.asdeporte.com.