LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—After dominating their respective races in the Alaska IronKids, Tara Borlain and Juan Francisco Baniqued are no longer strangers to Alaska’s swim-bike-run event.
Young triathletes Baniqued and Borlain will once again channel their energy and determination in the 2017 Alaska IronKids triathlon today in Shangri-La, Mactan.
The 14-year-old Baniqued from Biñan, Laguna is the triathlete to beat because of his two-year domination in the boys’ aged 13 to 14 category. However, this will be Baniqued’s last year to compete in the category as he turns 15 this December.
Challenging Baniqued for the top spot are Joe Bernard Sarmiento and Jose Manuel Arao, who finished at second and third places, respectively, in the previous IronKids.
Meanwhile, Borlain, who stood out in every Alaska IronKids edition, is still favored to win the competition despite the challenge of two strong competitors—Karen Andrea Manayon and Everly Jana Macalalad.
Some 360 young triathletes, including 24 teams in the relays, will participate in the Alaska IronKids that will start and end at the Shangri-La Mactan parking lot.
Participants are categorized by their age: 6 to 8 years old, 9 to 10, 11 to 12 and 13 to 14.
“Alaska IronKids aims to promote a well-balanced lifestyle for kids of today, who are used to staying indoors with TV, video game consoles and the Internet as companions. IronKids is also the perfect venue for families to bond and for parents to demonstrate in ‘real-time’ that being healthy can also be fun,” said Alaska Milk Corporation president Wilfred Uytengsu.
Alaska IronKids Philippines is the local junior version of the international triathlon tournament, IronMan, is now on its 6th year.
The event allows the young triathletes to experience a challenging and rewarding way to get fit.