Veteran Benedicto tops Ironman 70.3 in Lapu-lapu City; Santiago sparkles
AUGUST BENEDICTO pulled off a big August Sunday coup by cutting loose in the last loop of the closing run leg to beat Aussie Mark Jansen and capture the overall championship of the Megaworld Ironman 70.3 Philippines at The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-lapu City.
The veteran Benedicto, who placed 15th in the last pro IM 70.3 race in Cebu in 2019 while dominating the Asian Elite twice before the pandemic, rallied from as far back as 40th after the opening swim leg then kicked his way back into contention with a strong finish in the highlight bike event, a 3-loop race against time at the Cebu-cordova Link Expressway.
He moved to fourth heading to the deciding run and rode the momentum, running past Lanao del Norte’s Satur Salem, Jonathan Pascua and Jansen in the 12.8-km mark and storming to victory in four hours, 29 minutes and 16 seconds over the 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run counse in the country’s newest triathlon hub.
Benedicto had times of 35:17 (swim), 2:57:21 (bike) and 1:29:43 (run) in overcast skies.
“I broke away in the last 7 kms of the final loop. There were several of us in the bike leg because I trailed in the swim part, I think there were 15 swimmers ahead of me,” Benedicto said.
Benedicto also ran away with the 35-39 category crown of the event which drew close to 2,000 triathletes from 46 countries.
“I thank God for giving me the strength and to all the Cebuanos for their support,” added Benedicto, who drew inspiration from the cheers of the crowd that lined up the roads. “Hearing their cheers, I was energized.”
Ines Santiago, meanwhile, bucked the odds, including her monthly period, as she ruled the women’s side of the event—which staked 12 age-group titles—along with 40-44 trophy in 5:23:14.
“I’m very grateful for the nice weather, I really enjoyed it that I was able to push myself,” said the 40-yearold Santiago, a businesswoman from Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, and a part-time teacher at the University of Asia and the Pacific.
Santiago beat Leyann Ramo and Cianyl Gonzalez, who clocked 5:32:00 and 5:36:09, respectively, for the overall plum.
“Actually, when I woke up, I got my period and that was a tough challenge. I started bleeding at the run but you know, girl power!” added Santiago, who, along with the rest, also praised the successful staging of the event organized by The Ironman Group/sunrise Events Inc.