Craig Alexander, two-time Ironman World Champion, announced he will be competing in the Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene on Sunday.

Race director Mac Cavasar confirmed Thursday that Alexander will be wearing number 23.

The Australian said he needs to earn points guarantee his starting place at Kona this year, according to trizone. Ironman Coeur d’Alene carries 1,000 qualifying points and a prize purse of $25,000.

Alexander said illness forced him to withdrawn from Ironman Australia in May, and also from Escape from Alcatraz and the Eagleman 70.3.

The man called “Crowie” will face challenges from four-time Ironman Champion, Canadian Tom Evans and two-time Ironman champion, Maik Tweksiek from Germany.

Australian Ali Fitch, 38, will also be racing in Ironman Coeur d’Alene this year. She was second at IM Canada in 2008, and 2nd at IM Malaysia in 2007. She hasn’t been racing for about four years following a string of injuries and a nasty accident, trizone.com.au.

reported.

Fitch will be up against Julie Dibens from the Great Britain and

Americans Cait Snow and Meredith Kessler. Kessler was second at last year’s Ironman Coeur d’Alene and first Ironman win at Ironman Canada.