ORANGE COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TRIATHLON : Six-Time Hawaii Ironman Champion to Compete Here

Dave Scott, six-time Hawaii Ironman Triathlon champion, leads an elite field competing in the Orange County Performing Arts Center Triathlon on Sunday at Lake Mission Viejo.

The top-three finishers in the triathlon, which features a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride, and 10-kilometer run, will represent the United States at the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia, this summer.

Spencer Smith, who won the 1993 World Championship, Brad Kearns, a two-time winner of the Orange County Performing Arts Center Triathlon, and 1993 runner-up Andy Carlson are scheduled to compete in the men’s race. Greg Welch, who won the ’92 Orange County race, is also scheduled to compete.

Michellie Jones, who won the 1993 World Championship and the Orange County race last year, and Karen Smyers, who finished second to Jones at the World Championship, lead the women’s field.

Winners of the men’s and women’s race will receive as Mazda Miata. The purse for the event is $20,000. The professional race begins at 11 a.m.

As many as 1,500 amateurs are also expected to compete. That race will begin at 7 a.m. and is shorter than the pro course with a .6-mile swim, 18.6-mile bike ride, and five-mile run.

The event has raised more than $500,000 for the Performing Arts Center in its first eight years.