IRONMAN 70.3 kicks off today; Olongapo junior triathletes rule
LAPU-LAPU CITY – Rain or shine, around 2,000 triathletes will take off and race through the roads of Mactan Newtown here in Cebu as the Megaworld IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines fires off today.
Triathletes from around 46 nations are expected to traverse a mix course of 1.9-kilometer swim, 90km bike, and 21km run with a refreshing seaside and the newly-built CebuCordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), the country's longest bridge, being the highlight sceneries of the race.
The CCLEX itself, which links Cordova and Cebu, extends up to 8.9km and takes away almost ten percent of the race's three-loop bike track.
The race, presented by AIA Vitality and organized by The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc., kicks off at 6:20 a.m.
The 1.9km swim will feature a single loop clockwise course which will both start and end at Mactan Newtown Beach while the threeloop run course begins in Mactan Newtown heading to Punta Engano Road and culminates at the finish line along Mactan Newtown Blvd.
Jeff Edwards, Managing Director for IRONMAN Asia, expressed gratitude to the city of Lapu-Lapu, citing mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan, for a job well done in hosting the return of IRONMAN after a two-year lull due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
All eyes would be on Czech Republic's Petr Lukosz as the man to beat in the premiere triathlon event, having dominated the full distance of 3.8km swim, 180km bike, and 42k run, at 9:52:34 last March in Subic.
Filipinos Jethro Ramos, who finished an hour after Lukosz's feat five months ago, and Satar Salem, who ruled the Sun Life 5150 in Bohol last month, are also on the radar as top contenders. Lukosz and Ramos head the 40-44 division while Salem spearheads the 25-29 age category.
Meanwhile, Olongapo junior triathletes dominated the IRONKIDS yesterday, paraded by Darell Bada and Adrian Ungos of the Olongapo Junior Trackers in the 13-14 boys and girls categories, respectively.
Bada, who finished the mix 400m swim, 12km bike, and 3km run course after 33:22, trailed at third in the swim leg and finished exactly five minutes before letting off some steam in the bike (18:40) and run (9:42) courses, making him the fastest on the pedal and on foot.
The bike course saw a close race from some of the contenders but Bada and eventual first runner-up Carron Canas, who registered 34:08, went toe-to-toe as the latter clocked 18:44 but was left behind in running with 10:29. Connor Hodges placed second runner-up with 35:13.