A trio of women are expected to battle it out for the Subaru Ironman Canada title on Sunday, Aug. 26 in Penticton, B.C.

With four-time Subaru Ironman Canada champion Lori Bowden not competing in 2001, Victoria's Melissa Spooner steps to the forefront as the race favorite.

Spooner, 30, is part of the outstanding contingent of female triathletes who call Canada home. Spooner has claimed three Ironman titles in her career, including the 2000 Ironman USA Lake Placid triathlon. Spooner has also posted victories at Ironman New Zealand in 1999, and Ironman Lanzarote in 1998. Her 1999 Ironman New Zealand title saw her set the course record for the event, with a time of nine hours, 20 minutes and 41 seconds.

The 1998 season also saw Spooner's top finish at the Ironman World Championship, as the Canadian finished fourth at the event.

One athlete who is expected to challenge Spooner is Penticton resident Tara-Lee Marshall. Marshall, who represents her native New Zealand, broke through with a pair of Ironman wins in 2000, including claiming the 2000 Ironman Florida title.

Marshall posted the fastest bike and run splits to overtake Texan Andrea Fisher and earn her second title of 2000. Her time of 9:33:49 is the current course record for the Panama City Beach event.

Marshall earned her first title by posting a time of 9:15:55 in winning Ironman Switzerland.

Marshall placed second in Switzerland in 1999 and has top-10 finishes at both Ironman Canada and Ironman New Zealand.

Ironman veteran Jan Wanklyn will also be in the mix at the 2001 Subaru Ironman Canada.

Wanklyn has claimed five Ironman titles in her long career. At the age of 43, Wanklyn still is a serious contender any time that she steps out on an Ironman course.

Among Wanklyn's titles are wins at Ironman New Zealand (1991, 1996,1997), Ironman Australia (1991) and Ironman Germany (1990). The Australian was also second at Ironman Canada in 1996 and third in 1997.

Others who are expected to challenge for the 2001 Subaru Ironman Canada title include: Penticton's Barbara Scatchard (top-ten finishes the past four years at Ironman Canada), Gillian Bakker (seventh at the 2000 Subaru Ironman Canada), Jeanne Anne Krizman (4th at Ironman USA Lake Placid in 1999) and Darlene Hall (10th at Subaru Ironman Canada 2000).

More than 1,800 triathletes are expected to compete in the event, with 120 qualifying spots and $75,000 (Cdn) in prize money up for grabs.