Top pros brace for battle royale

CEBU, Philippines — Elite tri-warriors brace for a gripping battle royale for top honors in what’s largely considered as a world championship-caliber field in the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship that explodes Sunday at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

Australian 2016 world champion Tim Reed, three-time world titlist Craig Alexander, 70.3 Davao ruler Mauricio Mendez, and former regional champs Tim Van Berkel, Josh Amberger and Braden Currie headline an elite 19-man roster disputing the men’s pro crown while Mel Hauschildt, the reigning AsPac titlist, headlines the 14 contenders in the women’s side along with Radka Kahlefeldt, winner of IM 70.3 races in Davao and Subic, Caroline Steffen, a four-time champ in the IM races in the country.

“These are the guys I have much respect for and that also brings a different dynamic to the race. You know with these guys, it’s always hard to make a race strategy so I’m gonna go back to the simple strategy which is looking at what I can do and trying to get in the finish line fastest,” said Reed.

The 39 world-class pros graced yesterday’s meet the pros presscon, where they were joined by VIPs led by Sunrise Events, Inc. founder Fred Uytengsu, Ironman Asia Pacific CEO Geoff Meyer, Regent exec Jennifer See, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza, Cebu provincial administration Mark Tolentino, Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo Puyat, and acclaimed designer Kenneth Cobunpue, who created an exquisite pearl-studded trophies and medals for the winners.

“I have in front of me, I was about to say an impressive cast but I’ll be understating that, so without a doubt, it’s the absolute best cast of pros we’ve ever had in the country and it’s actually close to a world championship (field),” said Uytengsu, whose SEI is organizing races for the last 10 years.

“It’s something that I’m thrilled really for,  to just to watch these guys go out and give it to each other, it’s going to be one hell of a race,” said Myer.