QT2 Systems is very excited to announce that it will be sending it's strongest contingent, yet, to the 2012 Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

This year's roster of 26 athletes includes both first time and repeat qualifiers, alike, and represents about 14% of QT2's entire stable of athletes*. In their final weeks of preparation, the team of 26, and their coaches, are focusing on all of the details that will play such a significant role in racing on the Big Island.

Leading the way for QT2 is 2011's 9^th place female, professional Caitlin Snow, of Brockton, MA, whose 2:53 marathon is the third fastest of all time, and showed why she is one of the sport's top-ranked women.

Professional Pedro Gomes, of Alcochete, Portugal, will be in Kona for the first time, and boasts a dangerous ability to race well in hot and humid conditions.

Competing in the M18-24 age group, Justin Arnosky of Richfield, OH, will be making his first trip to the Big Island thanks to an impressive 2^nd place showing at Ironman Texas.

San Diego, CA's Alex Begg traveled to foreign lands to earn his slot in the M50-54 age group, at the Ironman European Championship, in Frankfurt, Germany this past July. Alex's Kona qualifying performance came, in large part, due to his division best swim and run.

Colleen Capper of Madison, WI will make her third trip to Kona thanks to a winning performance in the W50-54 division at Ironman Canada, just a few short weeks ago. Her 2^nd fastest bike split and fastest run time highlighted the hard earned win.

Bruce Cook, of Greenwich, CT, boasted the fastest run split of the day in the M60-64 age group at Ironman Coeur d'Alene in June. His age group win earned him his first trip to the Big Island in October.

For Jocelyn Cornman, of Leetsdale, PA, 2012 marks her third trip to the Ironman World Championships. In 2011 she improved by 15 minutes over her 2010 time, and entered into the 2012 racing at the top of the amateur field. At both Ironman Couer d' Alene and Timberman 70.3, not only did she win the W30-34 age group, but she was also the top amateur in each. Look for her to be vying for a spot atop the podium. Not to be outdone, Jocelyn's husband Jeremy will be making his fourth consecutive trip to Kona, racing in the M30-34 division. For these two, it's a family affair!

Matt Curbeau, of Penn Yan, NY, won the M25-29 age group at 2011's Ironman Florida, one of the circuit's most competitive races. His victory was secured by the fastest run split of the day, and resulted in a finishing time of 9:31:55.

Ted Macmahon, of Harvard, MA, is also making his first trip to the Big Island having qualified at Ironman Mont-Tremblant. One of the season's most impressive performances, Ted fought and clawed his way back from a sub-optimal swim, to put himself into a position where his 3:08 marathon could propel him into a long sought after spot, in the M45-49 age group. Training and life partner of Ted, Pattie Dalconzo, also qualified for Kona at Ironman Mont-Tremblant, winning the W50-54 division with the day's fastest run split. Another family affair for QT2!

Amy Javens, of Hermitage, PA, qualified for the Ironman World Championships in only her second time racing the distance. Her victory in the W40-44 age group, at Ironman Louisville, was also good enough to place her as the 2^nd amateur, and 7^th overall.

John Jenkins, of Absecon, NJ, has had 11 months to get fully prepared for the big day. He qualified in the M35-39 age group, at Ironman Cozumel, a race that very similarly replicates the conditions that he can expect to experience. Hot, humid, and windy, Cozumel is one of the circuit's most similar Kona experiences.

Something must be in the water in Harvard, MA! Della Jennings was the third athlete to qualify from that neck of the woods, at Ironman Mont-Tremblant. Her 4^th place finish in the F50-54 division was good enough to punch her ticket.

Amanda Kourtz, of Raynham, MA will be making her second trip to the World Championships after also taking a 2^nd place finish for the W25-29 age group at Ironman Texas. Amanda is well known for her potent run speed, so keep an eye out for her in the closing miles of the marathon.

Dave Wilson of Brockton, MA finished 2^nd in the M65-69 age group at Ironman Lake Placid, and looks forward to racing alongside his daughter, Kathy Laska, of Millis, MA. Also a family affair, these two are no strangers to the Big Island, both having raced in the Ironman World Championship and the Ultraman World Championship, in prior years.

Michelle LeBlanc, of The Woodlands, TX, used her home field advantage to win the W35-39 age group at Ironman Texas. That, coupled with her division's fastest bike and run splits, made her a force to be reckoned with in southeastern Texas!

If Brad Loescher, of Yardley, PA, doesn't play the real lottery, he certainly should! This is the second time he has won a lottery spot to race in October, with the first time having come in 2010.

Jesse Marquardt, of Gardner, MA, is a veteran triathlete who will be making his first appearance in Kona, thanks to a 3^rd place finish in the M35-39 age at Ironman Lake Placid. His run time was the third fastest in the sport's most competitive division.

Greg Probst, of Seattle, WA, earned his spot in the M45-49 age group atop flawless race execution at May's Ironman Texas. This will be his first time racing at the World Championship event.

Andy Salmon, of Millbury, MA, ran his way through the most of the M30-34 age group, and into a Kona slot at Ironman Louisville, with a 3:12 marathon. This is his first trip to Kona.

For Fred Silverblatt, of North Kingstown, RI, age is no limiter. This will be his first trip to Kona, and his second ever attempt at the distance, after having won the M75-79 age group at Ironman New York City.

Bradford J. Strater, of New York City, will be making his first trip to Kona, thanks to a sub-10 hour performance in the M30-34 age group at Ironman Mont-Tremblant. Brad sandwiched his impressive bike performance with a strong swim and run combo, to punch his ticket to the big dance.

Woodstock, VT's Julian Underwood will be racing in his first Ironman World Championship event after qualifying in his first crack at the distance, just a few weeks ago at Ironman Mont-Tremblant. This M35-39 athlete's time of 9:39:03 earned him the coveted right to race against the world's best, on the sport's biggest stage.

John Wilson, of New Canaan, CT, earned his slot at the Ironman 70.3 St. Croix, in early May, by winning the M50-54 age group.

You can follow coverage of the Ironman World Championships, on Saturday, October 13^th, on www.ironman.com (http://ironmanworldchampionship.com), starting at 12:00 pm EST. Make sure to follow these QT2 athletes throughout the day, as they realize the rewards of all of the hard effort put forth over this past season.

If you are interested in joining QT2's 2013 team, please visit their 2013 enrollment criteria here: http://www.qt2systems.com/team-crit/

*This number is inclusive of all QT2 athletes, including those who have turned down earned slots for the 2012 World Championship, and those not racing Ironman.