FOREIGN professional triathletes will give local bets a run for their money during the Unilab Active Health’s Tri United 1, which fires off this Sunday at the Dungaree Beach in Subic Bay Freeport.
Defending overall male elite champion August Benedicto of ULAH will be eyeing a strong showing to jumpstart his bid for a successful series title defense in this event organized by BikeKing and supported by ULAH, in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department.
Benedicto will be pressed hard by a toug Elite triathlon duels loom h field that includes three foreign professionals in the standard distance, namely Mitch Robins of Australia, Saranon Chantaraj of Thailand and Eneko Elosegui of Spain. The three are veterans in the global long distance triathlon circuit.
Adding excitement to the elite male competition are seasoned local bets John Chicano (2014 Tri United 1 champion), Daniel Brown and Benjamin Rana, who will try to pull the rug from under Benedicto in this race also supported by Aboitiz, Enervon Activ, Active Health Sports Gel, Enervon HP, AboitizPower, Orbea, Shimano, Maxxis, TIMEX and Saucony.
Meanwhile, 2014 Tri United series champion Anna Stroh and 2014 series 1st runner-up Ani Karina De Leon-Brown will resume their rivalry in the distaff side that also has the backing of Gardenia, Gerry’s Grill, Pocari Sweat, Lighthouse Marina Resort Subic, Camayan Beach Resort and Court Meridian Hotel.
Cash prizes amounting to P40,000 will be up for grabs in the elite category, with the champion to receive P10,000.
Close to 800 triathletes are taking part in the race that will also feature a sprint distance race.
The top three male and female winners in the age-groups and team categories will receive medals and gift packs in the race that have Men’s Health, SBR.ph, Raceday, Multisport and SPIN.ph as media partners.