DAPITAN City—More than 400 athletes from 12 countries are gearing up to embody the spirit of heroism here on Sunday as they take on the 5150 Triathlon Dapitan and the Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint in Zamboanga del Norte.
Both events, set against the cultural and historical backdrop of Dapitan City, promise a thrilling mix of competition and celebration, especially with the prestigious Bagong Bayani awards to be presented.
A significant highlight of this year’s competition, the Bagong Bayani awards will honor athletes not only for their outstanding physical achievements but also for their embodiment of resilience, perseverance and national pride – values closely tied to the country’s rich history of heroism.
The Olympic-style 5150 event features a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride, and a 10 km run, attracting a competitive field from both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Meanwhile, the Noli Run kicks off the weekend’s festivities today (Saturday), with runners dressed in costumes inspired by characters from Dr. Jose Rizal’s novels. A total of P20,000 will be awarded to the top two (male and female) best-costumed runners, adding a unique cultural flavor to the weekend’s events.
Among the participating athletes are members of top local triathlon teams such as Go for Gold, Tri SND Barracuda, Tandikan Tri Team, and Trimac, as well as many other local and international competitors.
“The 5150 Dapitan not only challenges athletes but also serves as a celebration of our rich cultural history,” said Dapitan City Mayor Seth “Bullet” Jalosjos. “Through this event, we aim to inspire our youth and community to embrace the lessons of sportsmanship and the values of positive competition for a brighter future.”
Another focal point of the event is the Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint, a shorter but no less competitive triathlon featuring a 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run. This event is designed for both seasoned and emerging athletes and aims to encourage community participation and inspire the next generation of triathletes.
Jeremy Go, Vice President for Marketing of Powerball, the company behind Go for Gold Philippines, highlighted the importance of promoting short-course triathlons.
“The Sunrise Sprint not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, but it also serves as a stepping stone for those who aspire to reach the competitive level of the sport,” said Go.
The overall Filipino champions (male and female) in the 5150 Dapitan will each receive P65,000, while winners of the Sunrise Sprint will take home P30,000.
The Lipi ni Rizal competition, which awards the fastest finish times for teams with five members, offers prizes of P20,000 for the 5150 and P10,000 for the Sunrise Sprint. Additionally, the Fuertes Juntos relay competition will reward the top finishers in the men’s, women’s, and mixed categories with P10,000 each. The Liga ni Rizal will grant P50,000 to the team with the most participants.
Princess Galura, general manager of The IRONMAN Group Philippines, praised Dapitan City for its continued support of the 5150 triathlon.
“Dapitan is a beautiful and welcoming race destination. Organizing an event that honors Filipino heroes, both past and present, gives us a sense of pride and drive to achieve greatness in our own ways,” said Galura.
The second 5150 Dapitan is supported by the local government of Dapitan City, Go for Gold for Sunrise Sprint, Active, Sante, Ion+ Advanced Electrolyte Drink, Manila Bulletin and Tempo.
For details, visit www.ironman.com/5150-dapitan-philippines or email sai.mayol@ironman.com.
