CamSur braces for ironmen's ultimate test

PILI, Camarines Sur , Philippines   – The elite men and women of world and local triathlon are all accounted for, assuring a high-powered field in the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines, the first world-class event under the World Triathlon Corp., to be held in this scenic province Sunday.

Reigning Ironman world champion Chris McCormack of Australia and defending 70.3 titlist Terenzo Bozzone of New Zealand will spearhead the strong foreign charge, arriving Wednesday night and proceeding immediately to the state-of-the-art CamSur Water Complex (CWC) here.

Arlan Macasieb, a former Southeast Asian Games triathlon medalist, is expected to lead the locals’ bid in this event that has lured 500 ironmen and women who will try to extend the limit of human endurance in three back-breaking events.

American Tim Marr, the 2008 Ironman World champion and Ironman Hawaii 70.3 third placer, legendary Canadian Lisa Bentley, an 11-time winner, and Australian Carlotte Paul, the 2009 Ironman Hawaii world titlist, are also in town for the one-day race extravaganza.

The 33-year-old Macasieb said the field is too strong a top 10 finish wouild be impressive in itself.

“We have two world champions,” said Macasieb referring to McCormack, whom he joined in training camp in Hawaii early this year, and the youthful Bozzone.

“They are going to be way ahead of me but if I can just stay within range with them, maybe in the top six or 10, I think I’ll be okay,” added the 2005 Manila Games bronze medal winner who had participated in three Ironman races, winning one in White Rock last year.

Aside from Macasieb, Nonoy Jopson, Alvin Alindogan, August Benedicto and Monica Torres will lead the host country’s campaign.

Alaska Milk president and CEO and triathlon enthusiast Fred Uytengsu and Cobra Energy Drink and Camarines Sur Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte combined their resouirces and expertise to bring the prestigious event in the country.

“It took us two years to get the Ironman license. But we did it. It was a labor of love. But we were determined,” said Uytengsu, who will also participate in the event covering a distance of 70.3 miles – 1.2 miles of swimming, 56 miles of cycling and 13.1 miles of running.

“Everybody’s doing his share. Gov. Villafuerte has made sure the roads are paved and asphalted. Alaska Milk is participating as one of sponsors and Cobra Energy Drink, which is now No. 1 in the market, saw a perfect way to promote its product and has embraced the Ironman concept,” he added.

Aside from Cobra Energy Drink, Alaska and CWC and Villafuerte, Globe Telecoms, the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Oakley, Timex, New Balance, SKI Construction and Gatorade are sponsoring the event with The Philippine STAR, ABS-CBN Publishing and Solar Sports as media partners.

The entry list shows 389 individual participants and 45 relay teams of three entries divided into five in the corporate, 16 in all-male, three in all-female and 11 in mixed categories.

There will also be seven age-group levels like 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 40-44, 45-49 and 50-and-above with the 35-39 bracket attracting the most competitors with 77 and the 50-and-up drawing 23.

All in all, there will be 270 Filipino competitors, 17 Americans, 10 Australians, 10 Britons, eight Japanese, five Kiwis and the same number of Canadians.

China, Austria, Slovakia, Mexico, Belgium, Norway, Venezuela, South Africa, France, Sweden, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Korea and Mongolia were other countries represented in this event staking total money pot worth $25,000 with the champion winning $6,000.