Ironman Florida Races for Three Kona Slots
A 75-athlete professional field competes Saturday for qualifying spots at the 2027 Ironman World Championship and a $100,000 prize purse.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Running
Ironman Florida hosts 75 professional athletes Saturday, November 7, racing for three qualifying slots for the 2027 Ironman World Championship in Kona. The professional prize purse totals $100,000 USD, with 60 men and the remaining women in the field.
Why it matters
The race offers athletes an early path to qualification for the 2027 Kona World Championship, rather than waiting for later-season opportunities. Its strong field, including several athletes with recent podium results, sets up a competitive race for limited slots.
The field includes 75 professional athletes competing for three 2027 Kona slots and a $100,000 purse, with Rudy Von Berg holding the course record of 7:34:41. Race outcomes and final slot allocations remain unknown until the event concludes Saturday.
The players
Sam Long
Sam Long is the top seed in the Ironman Florida professional field, having recorded strong 70.3 results this season and a sixth-place finish at the 2026 Ironman World Championship in Kona.
Magnus Ditlev
Magnus Ditlev is a professional triathlete who led the 2026 Ironman World Championship before withdrawing after cramps, and he previously raced Ironman Florida in 2023.
Alanis Siffert
Alanis Siffert is the Challenge Roth champion and a three-time Alpe d'Huez champion who has enjoyed a dominant 2026 season with multiple podium finishes.
The details
Sam Long, wearing bib number 1, is the top seed after finishing second at Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania, first at Ironman 70.3 Boise, and sixth at the 2026 Ironman World Championship. Alanis Siffert, the Challenge Roth champion, has claimed five podiums from eight races this season, while Magnus Ditlev, who led the 2026 Kona race before withdrawing with cramps, is seeking early qualification.
Timeline
2023: Von Berg and Moench won the previous professional race at Ironman Florida.
2026 season: Long, Ditlev, Lawrence, and Siffert raced the season and World Championship.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Ironman Florida professional race takes place.
Season Trajectory
Ironman Florida offers an early qualifying route to the 2027 Kona World Championship, following the 2026 Kona race where Sam Long placed sixth and Magnus Ditlev led before withdrawing. Results here will shape which athletes head into next season with a qualified slot already secured.
Fantasy and fan followers should note that Sam Long, Magnus Ditlev, Alanis Siffert, and Holly Lawrence are among the athletes whose results will affect qualification standings. Viewers can track the race Saturday, as three Kona slots are being decided in a single day of competition.
The takeaway
Ironman Florida gives athletes a rare early opportunity to lock in a Kona slot, so race-day performance this Saturday could shape the 2027 championship field well before the season begins.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see the Running section.
