Of course I have to start with defending champion and bionic woman Chrissie Wellington from Great Britain. She is for sure the favorite to win but she is beatable and human. I still think it would take a lot from any girl to come across the finish line ahead of her this year.

Chrissie is not just going to win but could well break the course record in Hawaii this year. She is the new queen of Kona.

I would love to see Samantha McGlone win. She could just be in the wrong era with Chrissie around. Having that said, if anyone can do it she is for sure my number one pick.

Samantha is very consistent and has had a second place finish as a rookie in Kona before.

She is also more experienced now and for sure wants a taste of the highest spot to call herself the new queen of Kona.

We all know that to really make it in the top ten in the Ironman world championships in Hawaii you have to be a great runner. Well, Yvonne Van Vlerken is just that and she can bike but can she swim?

I hope she has done some work on her swim; that would be a golden opportunity to show the world that the former Duathlete is a true Triathlete.

Don't take me wrong, she is a true top competitor but would make her life easier and be closer to a win with a better swim.
I think Chrissie and she are very competitive with each other if you know what I mean.

Of course I will bring up another big name because this is the world championships. Sandra Wallennhorst is another great runner if not the fastest of them all in my opinion.

Can she put an overall great swim, bike and run together to win? I think she will be in the top ten but not quite ready to break to the number one spot this year.

If you follow results from this race year after year you will find a girl named Kate Major.
Kate is from Australia and for sure knows what it takes to be in the top three.

I also think she knows she could be running out of time to finally get a win or break out of a top three and step in the number two highest spots in Hawaii.

Kate Major has been focused and injury free! That might be just enough but I still think a win might come just short.

Let's not forget the Australian Rebekah Keat. I believe she will be talked about during the race and come out with something special for this year's race. I am sure her competitors agree with me.

Leanda Cave is a former world short course champion and will be in the top spots in this year's race as well. Having that said I think she needs a few more years to learn to put a real good Ironman in Hawaii together.

Erika Csomor is not one of my last picks just because I mention her name last. Erika has proven to be very dangerous and like I said in my men's article 4th place is the place to be. She is in the best place and could be the most motivated girl for the win.

I am sure a top three is very close and she can smell a podium finish and like lance Armstrong says, "if you can smell it's good".

There are a lot that can happen with everyone on race day, nutrition, mechanical problems, accidents and a lot more but, here is my top ten for the women.

1.  Chrissie Wellington
2.  Samantha MacGlone
3.  Erika Csomor
4.  Kate Major
5.  Leanda Cave
6.  Sandra Wallennhorst
7.  Rebekah Keat
8.  Rebecca Preston
9.  Bella Comerford
10.  Joanna Lawn

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