The organizers of Ironman triathlon events today named Des Moines as a finalist for a new competition in 2020. 

The other finalists are Fayetteville, Ark., Memphis, Tenn., and Tulsa, Okla. 

The new event will be the first new full-distance Ironman competition in the United States since 2014. 

Race officials will visit the finalist cities next month. A decision is expected by mid-June.

“All four of these cities present great opportunities to put on a world-class Ironman triathlon through their unique landscapes, culture, history and hospitality that our athletes and their families and friends would surely appreciate,” said Shane Facteau, Ironman chief operating officer. 

Ironman’s announcement noted Des Moines’ accessibility via plane and vehicle, its plentiful restaurants and hotel rooms, and its recent listing in U.S. News & World Report as a top-five place to live in the United States.