The Generali Worldwide Mercuryman today announced the elite field set to race in the half iron distance triathlon on January 17th 2016, including British professional triathlete Rachel Joyce.

Rachel Joyce had an excellent 2015 race season kicking off at the Olympic Distance Triathlon in Brazil and ending at the 2015 IRONMAN World Championships in Hawaii. Racing for Great Britain, Rachel Joyce placed 2nd in the IRONMAN World Championships posting a 3:08:42 marathon run and finishing with a time of 9:10:59.

A professional triathlete since 2008, Rachel will add her Mercuryman race to a resume that already includes five top ten finishes in IRONMAN World Championships, an ITU Long Course World Championship, and several of triathlons highest profile races.

Joyce lives and trains full-time in Boulder, Colorado under 6x Ironman World Champion Dave Scott. Joyce’s career highlights including winning Challenge Roth, the ITU Long Course World Championships, Ironman Lanzarote and multiple Ironman 70.3 events.

Mercuryman Race Director, Trevor Murphy, said he was delighted that such an accomplished triathlete was competing in this year’s Generali Worldwide Mercuryman.

“We are thrilled that Rachel is starting her 2016 race season with the Generali Worldwide Mercuryman. It’s apparent that Rachel is already building from the foundation she worked so hard to create last year.” He said “It’s going to be great watching her make her way through the course to gain a spot on the podium.”

Rachel’s biggest competition will likely come from Erin Spitler (USA) and Jenny Fletcher (USA). Erin Spitler raced Ironman Calgary 70.3 in July 2015 and placed in the top 5. As well as an acclaimed professional triathlete, Erin also doubles as a respected health coach. When not training, Jenny Fletcher is a successful fitness model holding contracts with five different agencies. Jenny earned her first ever professional triathlon victory at the 2012 IRONMAN 70.3 Branson.

Past Mercuryman competitor and USA triathlon coach Kim Schwabenbauer will be present at the race offering valuable coaching advice during a panel session in Gardenia Court, Camana Bay on Friday 15th at 7pm. Free to attend, the panel session will offer invaluable training advice along with a Q&A with the competing professionals.

Kim Schwabenbauer’s most impressive 2015 triumph was ending her season with a 3rd place at Ironman Chattanooga in Tennessee. Racing against 40 professional female triathletes, Kim placed with a final time of 9:14.
“Overall, 2015 was my most consistent season yet and I was thankful to end the year healthy” she said.

“We’re thrilled with the elite competitors joining us this year, we’re confident our amateur competitors will be excited about the prospect of competing on the same course with some of the world’s best triathletes. It’ll be an exciting race day” Murphy said.

The Mercuryman committee extended its thanks to Generali Worldwide, who pledged its support for the second year as the title sponsor of the race.

“Mercuryman is an iconic race and we feel privileged to further our commitment to the Cayman community through supporting the Stroke Warriors of Cayman and East End Primary School. All of which wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors and title sponsor, Generali Worldwide” Murphy said.

Organisers would also like to thank other sponsors Tower, CUC, Dart, Living The Dream Divers, Regenexx, Cayman National Bank, Maples & Calder, Fosters Food Fair, Wyndham Reef Resort, Cayman Airways and Hurleys Media.

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