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Friday, March 29, 2024

Betten seeks three-peat in Regent 1550

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He’s back.

And Sam Betten’s not only chasing a back-to-back title but a rare grand slam in the local version of the world’s largest Olympic distance triathlon series when the Regent 5150 is fired off June 4 in Subic Bay.

The 6-4 Aussie topped the last two editions of the event, including a dominating performance last year when he led from start to finish of the challenging 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run event and churned out a 2:06.55 clocking.

That should pump Betten all the more this year—not only for the rare chance to become the first triathlete to score a three-peat in the annual event but also to prime up for the another 5150 championship in Bohol later this year.

But Betten will be in for a tough outing this time with fellow Aussies and veterans Ben Allen, Mitch Robins and Dan Brown along with Iain Alexandridis of the US going all-out to foil his ambitious bid.

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“It’s tougher to win twice in a row. So going for three is something very special but very challenging,” said the 29-year-old Betten.

While last year’s women’s champ won’t be around to defend her crown, veteran campaigner and bemedalled triathlete Dimity-Lee Duke, also of Australia, is tipped to dispute the title with Hungarian Anna Eberhardt, and Kerry Mulholland and Annelies Jeffries, both from Down Under.

To spice up the event, sponsored by the country’s leading snack manufacturing company, the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. is again putting up a short distance race series, featuring a 750m swim, a 20k bike and a 5k run, that proved to be a big hit last year.

Sam Betten

Dubbed the Sunrise Sprint, the event is designed for beginners wanting to immerse themselves into triathlon racing, a tri warrior who has been off the circuit and out to make a comeback or simply a triathlon enthusiast.

SEI founder Fred Uytengsu said that it has been their desire to expand the base of triathlon since they took the cudgels for the sport in mid-2000 with the Sunrise Sprint providing beginners or those on a comeback trail a fun and friendly racing experience.

Regent Foods president and CEO Ricky See, on the other hand, is renewing its sponsorship of the sport as part of the firm’s continuing commitment to support the Filipino’s changing lifestyles and needs.

“Regent Foods started to focus in promoting a balanced routine through our participation in fun run events. And after seeing triathlon evolve into what it is today, we are truly proud to be part in supporting the triathlon community with the Regent 5150 event,” said See.

Backers of the event are Dept. of Tourism Region 3 and Tourism Promotions Board as presentors, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority as host venue and Acea Subic Bay as host hotel, along with 2GO Express, Powerade and Wilkins Pure, TYR, Hoka One, Active Network, Philippine Star, Trilife, AsiaTRI.com, Finisher Pix, HyperHD on Cignal, AlcoPlus, Cetaphil, Daylong, Devant, Omega, PLDT Subictel, Sanicare, Storck, Garmin, Alaska, David’s Salon, GU, Intercare, Pioneer Insurance and Sante Barley, the Lighthouse Marina Hotel, Court Meridian, Subic International Hotel and Active Network.

Meanwhile, the course remains daunting and challenging for the competing field with the swim stage set to start at ACEA beach following a counter clockwise flow. After completion, participants head to Transition 1 at ACEA parking lot for the bike part in the mount area in San Bernardo Road.

The bike course is a point-to-point event. After exiting the transition in ACEA, participants will turn left and head to San Bernardo road. They then head straight and enter the Subic International Airport to complete the event in the airport runway.

They will then proceed to Argonaut Highway leading them to Corregidor road, heading to twisty road of IDESS. Participants will then head back to the hilly sections and fast descents of Corregidor road bringing them back to Argonaut road before they negotiate a short climb heading to its flat roads. Participants will then head to Rizal Highway which will lead to Transition 2 in Remy Field.

The concluding run stage will have a clockwise flow. It will start at the Transition 2 in Remy Field and then head to Rizal highway for the first turn around in Malawaan wharf. Then head back in front of Remy Field, going to Waterfront road for the second turn around near the lighthouse. Participants then head back to Remy Field on their way to the finish line.

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