ST.CROIX, V.I.-Former Ironman World Champion Karen Smyers will compete in the 2002 St. Croix Half-Ironman. Smyers claimed the 1995 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, posting an overall time of nine hours, 16 minutes and 46 seconds. Besides her 1995 title, Smyers has finished in the top five at the Ironman World Championship five other times, including a fifth-place finish in 2001.

The 40-year-old Smyers is not only well known for her great success, but also for the many obstacles that she has been forced to overcome, including a bout with cancer. Smyers is no stranger to St. Croix, having posted five St. Croix International wins in her career. (1992-1994, 1997 and 1999). Karen has had great success in St. Croix, said St. Croix Half Ironman Race Director Tom Guthrie. We're very glad to have her back in 2002.

Also announced for the race is two-time Ironman World Champion Luc Van Lierde. The announcement makes for two Half Ironman's on Van Lierde's schedule in May, as he is scheduled to also compete in the Ralphs California Half Ironman in Oceanside, Calif. on May 19.

Van Lierde has not only claimed two Ironman World titles in Kona, but also holds the course record for the event, posting an overall time of eight hours, four minutes and eight seconds back in 1996. The 32-year-old Belgian also holds the record for the fastest time in Ironman history, posting a time of seven hours, 50 minutes and 27 seconds to earn the Ironman Germany title back in 1997. He is one of only five Ironman athletes to break the eight-hour barrier (Germany's Jurgen Zack, Thomas Hellriegel and Lothar Leder, and Canada's Peter Reid being the others.)

Smyers and Van Lierde join a stacked field at the St. Croix Half Ironman, which includes defending champions Ryan Bolton and Joanna Zeiger, current Ironman World Champion Natascha Badmann and former short-course World Champion Spencer Smith.