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With the deepest elite field in the history of Ironman Western Australia in attendance, there's an air of expectation that the magical eight-hour barrier might go this Sunday.

In 2006, Jason Shortis crossed the line in 8:03:56 – the same time Craig Alexander set this year in Kona to break the course record at the Ironman World Championships.

With names such as Luke McKenzie, Timo Bracht and Maik Twelsiek ready to bust this race wide open, there's an air of expectation the magical eight-hour barrier could go at this year's Ironman Western Australia on Sunday.

At this morning's press conference it was an upbeat and confident McKenzie who believes he is a real chance to win this year's race. 

 

“I know I have the fitness to get to that next level," McKenzie said. "Everything just has to click like it did on Kona. The nature of the course means you have to work hard in every leg of the race and I love that. This is definitely a course where the eight hour barrier and course record could be broken.” 

Despite having some time off after Kona, Bracht too believes he could go under eight hours in Western Australia. 

 

“I took a couple of weeks off after Kona and travelled with my family and then came to Australia a week ago," Bracht said. "I feel no pressure in this race for me, which is a good feeling and I am well prepared. This is a special race as it is totally flat and I think I have the potential on Sunday to finish this race under eight hours.”

Chasing Bracht and McKenzie will be a strong contingent of local and overseas pros including Twelsiek, Mitch Anderson, Jason Shortis, Matty White, Clayton Fettell, Josh Rix and Guy Crawford.

Bracht should have the goods to get the result this year in Busselton, but you can't be too certain how he will back up after Kona. The one to watch early will be the powerful swim-biker Fettell, who is coming off his maiden 70.3 victory in Port Macquarie last month.

Former winner Anderson will be up there on the bike, but whether he has the legs to hold off the likes of Bracht and McKenzie chasing him down is another question that will be answered on Sunday.

In the women's race it's expected to be another tight-fought race, with Challenge Barcelona winner Michelle Mitchell being installed by the experts to take the win. 

Last year's winner Kate Bevilaqua is coming off a tough DNF in Kona, but she is in a positive frame of mind heading into Sunday.

 

“I took some time off after Kona where I did not finish after not being able to hold anything down on the bike," Bevilaqua said. "Personally, training has been going great since returning from the USA and I feel that I am in better shape than last year. This race is like home, which makes it race really special and there are so many locals that cheer me on.”

US athlete Hilary Biscay has made the trek to Australia with partner Twelsiek and is also confident of a big performance on Sunday. 

 

“I am coming in to this race with good health and a new coach after what I describe as a couple of rough seasons," Biscay said. "This is my first test of my new training program. I have heard so many great things about this event with fantastic crowd support.”

Former Ironman winner Carrie Lester is also racing and expected to challenge for the win on Sunday.

Conditions are going to be the big factor on Sunday. With varying weather conditions predicted for Sunday, there's plenty of speculation about whether eight hours will go if the winds pick up as predicted on the bike. 

Stay tuned to the site for an elite report straight after the elites come through for a report on how the big race went down. 

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