SEA Games gold medalist Claire Adorna headlines the compact cast of triathletes bracing for a fierce battle in the Asian Elite to be held side by side with the centerpiece pro division in the Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay presented by Big Boss Cement which gets going Sunday (June 2).
Joining Adorna in the hunt for top honors and P50,000 prize in the endurance race is Alexandra Ganzon while veteran campaigner August Benedicto banners the men’s roster that also drew Mark Anthony Hosana, Banjo Norte, Benjamin Raña, Leonard Rondina and Jorry Ycong.
Keen competition is also seen in other age-group divisions with 142 vying for top honors in the 40-44 bracket and 125 and 112 disputing the titles in the 35-39 and 45-49 categories of the event organized and conducted by Sunrise Events Inc.
Also on tap are the relay events featuring the male, female and mixed categories with a total of 76 teams chasing the crowns in the event also held to promote an active and healthy lifestyle among Filipinos.
For details, visit www.ironman703subicbay.com or the Facebook page Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay and @im703subicbay on Instagram and Twitter. Official event hashtags are #CenturyTunaIM703 #im703subicbay.
Close to thousand triathletes from 41 countries are all set for what promises to be another challenging race on a practically new course for the 1.9km swim-90km bike-21km run event with the race central now at Subic Bay Boardwalk.
But focus will surely be on the pro side with Nick Baldwin of Seychelles gunning for another victory at what has become the home of Phl triathlon after ruling the first-ever full IRONMAN Philippines last year.
But he will be up against a crack list of rivals, headed by former three-time world champion Tim Reed and fellow Australians Sam Betten, Tim Van Berkel and Conor McKay with Colombia’s Rodrigo Acevedo and Oli Stenning of Great Britain boosting the cast.
Clashing in the women’s pro section are Swiss Caroline Steffen, Aussie Dimity Lee Duke, New Zealand’s Laura Wood, Manami Iijima of Guam and Lisa Tyack, another star from Down Under.
Meanwhile, the Alaska Fortified IronKids will usher in the IRONMAN 70.3 tomorrow (Saturday) with over 300 junior athletes clashingin the swim-run event also held to promote fitness among the youth and keep them busy and away from vices.
The gun start for the male pros and male Asian Elite will be at 6:20 a.m. with the female pros and those in the Asian Elite kicking off their respective bids two minutes later. The rolling gun start for the age groupers and relay participants will be held 30 minutes later.
The swim cut is 70 minutes to finish the 1.9km based on the rolling start, while the bike and run cut offs are five hours and 30 minutes and eight hours and 30 minutes, respectively.
Backing the event are Big Boss Cement (presenting sponsor), venue host Subic Bay, bike leg racing partner NLEX SCTEX, Black Arrow (official courier and logistics partner) Hoka (official footwear), Gatorade, TYR, Gu, Lightwater, David’s Salon, Prudential Guarantee, ONE Cignal, the Philippine Star, Trilife, AsiaTri.com, Finisher Pix and Active.
