Mexican Mauricio Mendez and Radka Kahlefeldt of the Czech Republic gear up for a tougher, challenging face-off with the very best in long-distance triathlon races as they go for back-to-back in the Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 Davao presented by Petron on March 24.
The duo bested a crack roster of rivals in contrasting fashions to rule the inaugural staging of the event at Azuela Cove last year with Mendez, 23, and Kahlefeldt completing a “double” by ruling the Asia-Pacific Championship in Cebu last August.
That should make them the marked bets in the upcoming 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run even organized and conducted by Sunrise Events, Inc., which had lured close to 2,200 entries from 38 countries with Mendez out to better his mark of 3:50:32 in come-from-behind manner and Kahlefeldt seeking to improve her winning 4:25:38 time clinched in wire-to-wire fashion.
They include 16 pro triathletes clashing not only for top honors but also for World Championship berths with noted Aussies Tim Reed, Sam Betten and Tim Van Berkel, Germany’s Markus Rolli, Frenchman Antony Costes and Bahrain’s Eric Watson joining the title hunt.
Out to foil Kahlefeldt’s title-retention drive are veteran Phl campaigners Caroline Steffen of Switzerland and Dimity Lee Duke of Australia with Guam’s Manami Iijima, who topped the Subic 5150 late last year.
The event, featuring individual and relay competitions, has also drawn campaigners from United Arab Emirates, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico, Ukraine, India, Malaysia, Qatar, the US, Belgium, Spain, Italy, New Caledonia, Singapore, South Africa, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Korean, Norway, Thailand, Switzerland, Greece, Kuwait, New Zealand, Turkey, China, Guam, Mexico, Panama and Taiwan.
SEI founder Wilfred Uytengsu has guaranteed another successful staging of the event with Davao emerging as the new triathlon destination with the all-out support of the city officials.
For details, visit the event’s website at www.ironman.com/davao703.
Other SEI-organized and produced events this year are the Sun Life 5150 Cebu on April 28, the Century Ironman 70.3 Subic on June 2, the Penong’s 5150 Davao on July 7, the Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines on Aug. 11, the Black Arrow Express 5150 Subic on Oct. 27 and the Sun Life Cycle PH in November.
Ushering in the second Alveo IRONMAN is the Sun Life Bike Course Ride Out, the IronKids, the IronGirl, and the Ironman 70.3 Davao Expo at the Tent on March 17.
Backers of the event are title sponsor Alveo, an AyalaLand company, presentor Petron, venue hosts Lungsod ng Dabaw, Azuela Cove and the Enderun Tent, bike course partners Davao del Norte, Panabo, Tagum and Carmen, official courier and logistics partner 2Go Express, official swim cap TYR, official energy gel GU, official nutrition Vitargo, official eyewear Rudy Project, and Aboitiz Power, Davao Light, David’s Salon, Davao Metro Shuttle, Prudential Guarantee, and media partners ONE Sports on Cignal, the Philippine Star, Trilife, AsiaTri.com and Finisher Pix.RO
