Specially crafted medals await Ironman finishers

MANILA, Philippines — Medals representing the Filipino’s versatility and resilience as shown by triathletes and the long-suffering people of Marawi City await the finishers of the Century Tuna Ironman Philippines unfurling at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone today.

The triangular medal bearing three stars and a sun inspired by the country’s flag and aptly named “Alab ng Puso,” crafted by sculptor Daniel dela Cruz and with the ribbons done by the Maranao weavers, will be handed to the finishers of the historic first-ever full Ironman race here.

“We wanted to honor the anthem, our flag. The three stars represent the three disciplines in triathlon. One sun, one nation, one finish line,” said Sunrise Events founder Fred Uytengsu, who gifted Maranao weavers representative Salika Maguindanao with her own medal onstage in a heartwarming moment at the press conference last Friday.

“I would like to say thank you to everybody who believes in us. Because of that belief we also started to believe in ourselves,” said Maguindanao, survivor of the war that besieged the city last year.

Bannering the Filipinos’ dreams of conquering the Ironman in homesoil is two-time Southeast Asian Games medalist and first Filipino Kona Ironman finisher Arland Macasieb who signed up in the 35-39 age group.

Up for grabs in the 3.8K swim, 180K bike and 42K run race is a $25,000 prize purse and 30 age group qualifying slots for the 2018 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in October.

An Ironman 70.3 race will also be held tomorrow which, on the other hand, will hand 25 slots to the 2018 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa in September.