KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii – Most of the world’s top triathletes will compete today for the prestige that comes with their sport’s best-known event, as well as a prize of $100,000 for men’s and women’s winners.

Among those competing is Machias’ Robert Hepler Jr., 40, the director of athletics and director of the Center for Lifelong Learning at UMaine-Machias.

Hepler qualified for the Ironman competition when he won the 40-and-over age category at the recent Black Eagle Triathlon in Cambridge, Md. He set course records at the UMaine-Orono Triathlon and the Machias Rotary Club 5-kilometer race.

The winner’s award for the competition was increased $30,000 from last year, and a total purse of $430,000 is available for the nearly 1,600 competitors from 49 states and 49 countries besides the United States.

In addition to the sometimes gusty winds at the north end of Hawaii Island during the 112-mile bicycle ride, competitors note that the athletes often face humid conditions on the bike ride and the 26.2-mile marathon run.

Hepler is prepared for the challenge and hopes to represent his state well. “I want to show that triathletes from Maine can excel in the sport,” he said.