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Ironmen at Kona

Six have broken the eight-hour barrier in a 140.6-mile Ironman triathlon. But at Kona, where the 26th world championships will be held on Oct. 16, the mark remains as untouchable as the four-minute mile once was for runners. Here's a look at the top three chasing the title and an elusive record.

[This article continas a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

Peter Reid

Tim DeBoom

Simon Lessing

Hometown

Victoria, B.C.

Lyons, Colorado

Cape Town, South Africa

Age

35

33

32

Idol

Mark Allen

John Naber

Mark Allen

Best Ironman time

7:51:56 at '99 Austria

8:08:55 at '02 Austria

8:23:12 at '04 Lake Placid

Best Hawaii time

8:21:01 in '00

8:23:09 in '00

N/A

Ironman victories

10

4

1

Strongest leg

Running

Swimming

Running

Why he'll win

Three wins in last six at Kona

Two straight Kona wins from '01 to '02

Broke Lake Placid record by 10 mins.

Why he won't

Wilted to sixt in July at Germany

Injury prone. In '03 passed a kidney stone at mile 128

Kona rookie

COLOR PHOTO

FRANK WECHSEL/BONGARTS (REID)

COLOR PHOTO

BARON SEKIYA/WEST HAWAII TODAY/AP (DEBOOM)

COLOR PHOTO

PHIL COLE/GETTY IMAGES (LESSING)