Two more locals will be joining Tyler Butterfield at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in October.

Top female triathlete Karen Smith along with Kent Richardson booked their places for the gruelling race in Hawaii after superb performances on Sunday at the St. Croix 70.3 triathlon.

While Butterfield finished in third place in the professional division, beating out some of the finest triathletes in the world, Smith won the 40-44 age group and was seventh overall – including the professionals – and she was also the second placed amateur.

Richardson was also on the podium after placing third in the men's 50-54 age group and Julia Hawley came ever so close to qualifying for Hawaii after she finished in third place in the 45-49 age group. To qualify for Hawaii, Hawley would have had to win her age group.

There were more locals in St. Croix as well with Peter Hallet placing seventh in the 25-29 age group while Jeff Conyers was 10th in the 55-59 age group and Paul DeGuilo 17th in 50-54 age group.

Smith said yesterday from Miami airport where she was on the way back to the Island: "It was great having all the people from Bermuda in St. Croix – fantastic. Last night at the awards ceremony we had four people on the podium. We had nine to 10 people at our table – we made Bermuda well known down there!

"We had people coming up to us saying 'you guys from Bermuda are doing really well'. Although we were not an official team it was great have all that support there. Going through the course we would recognise each other during some painful moments – it certainly helped brighten up the run!"

And the course was tough.

Smith added: "It was pretty brutal conditions yesterday. Talking to many of the people who have been there before they said it was some of the hottest weather they have ever had. There were more DNFs (did not finish) than ever before. It was a very hot, humid and windy day. Kind of like Cup Match weather – brutal conditions for racing."

But despite those tough conditions Smith was extremely happy with finishing first in her age group and qualifying for Hawaii in October.

"I am really happy with how it went." she said.

"My first time (at the World Championships) was in 2007 and I missed out in 2008 and then I did it again 2009. Getting there is the real challenge. There is only one qualifying spot in my age group so I had to win it on Sunday. If you don't win it you have to hope that the person who did win doesn't want to go and it is very unusual that the first place person doesn't want to go to Hawaii.

"I am very excited. This year has been focused on getting to Hawaii."

Smith plans to do another 70.3 Ironman in June and then compete in Lake Placid in July.

Although Hawley didn't qualify for Hawaii she has two more Ironmans to grab a spot.

Smith was joined in Hawaii last year by Hawley and Karen Bordage.

Hawley did, however, qualify for the 70.3 Ironman World Championships in Clearwater this year as did Paul DeGuilo.

Of Richardson qualifying for Hawaii, Smith said: "There were two Ironman spots for his age group and the first place guy didn't want it so he took it. – it is all based on rolldown."

Now Smith will focus the rest of the year on Hawaii even though she has two more events before October's World Championships.

"My coach will send the training programme for what is coming up," she said.

Smith, Hawley and Bordage use the services of LifeSport for their coaching.

"They are based out of Victoria, Canada – it is online coaching," she said.

The Bermuda athletes use a website where they upload their training data every day. "They then analyse it and let you know what you need to be doing. There is a lot of feedback from them," she said.

LifeSport are the "official coaches of the Ironman worldwide".

"The Ironman is a huge commitment," she said. Last year Smith completed the race in just under 11 hours.

Of Butterfield who is having a superb year on the pro circuit, Smith said: "Tyler is amazing. He is on top of the world. He is so excited and he is such an inspiration for all of us. He really helps to motivate us."

Triathlon observer Barry Siff reporting on the race from St. Croix was also high in his praise for Butterfield.

"Butterfield, a 27-year-old training in Boulder, but from Bermuda, is one to watch. In 2007, he was bike racing professionally for Team Slipstream. With tremendous genes from his parents, who are both elite runners, Butterfield has become one of the most feared and tenacious runners in the sport.

"His 1:07:52 at last week's Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas was simply amazing – nearly four minutes faster than any other male professional. His 1:20:04 today in St. Croix was the second fastest run of the day – only bested by sixth place finisher, Maxim Kriat of Ukraine."