TWENTY-TWO fearless women are set to push their limits in the Century Tuna full IRONMAN Philippines while a formidable group gears up for a fierce battle in the IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay events kicking off Sunday (June 9) at Subic Bay Boardwalk.
Leading the diverse and determined lineup in the full-distance IRONMAN is United Arab Emirates’ Svetlana Kovaleva. Competitors from Japan, Hongkong, Mexico, France, Great Britain, Singapore, Ecuador and Taiwan promise a thrilling contest of endurance across the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run race.
Notably, local talents Sarah Erañ, Maryfel Aumentado, and Anne Nuñez, who topped the 18-24 age category in last year’s IM 70.3 Subic Bay, will also vie for top honors.
On the women’s side of the IM 70.3, a fierce duel is anticipated over the 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run race. Contenders include Kath Lagunsad, Maypette Ng and rising stars Jamiya Mendoza and Audrey Reodica.
This year’s event, organized by The IRONMAN Group, has drawn over a thousand participants across various individual age categories and relay events, with coveted slots for three World Championships up for grabs.
Ensuring a seamless and successful event, organizers, partners and the host venue have collaborated since last year, aiming to provide an exceptional experience that also highlights local hospitality.
The men’s competition will also be intense, with Czech Petr Lukosz gunning for a second victory in three years in the full IRONMAN race. Competitors from South Africa, Korea, Singapore, Portugal, France, Kuwait, Korea, Germany, China, Uzbekistan, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Switzerland, Italy, Thailand, Japan, Monaco, and the US will spice up the title chase.
Leading the huge Philippine contingent are athletes like Jemuel Clemente, who placed 13th overall in last year’s race, and Daniel Valdez, Ramon Abeleda, Gabb Rosario, Lexter Ansaldo, Rolando Alquero and Edgar Puruganan.
Young talents Enrico Pisuena, Carlos Dungao, Allen Santiago and Alab Adviento are also in the mix.
The Subic 70.3 relay, meanwhile, will feature male and female divisions, adding another layer of excitement to the event.
Kicking off the triathlon weekend is the Choco Hero IRONKIDS on Saturday (June 8), also in Subic Bay. Open to children aged 6 to 15, the event includes a swim-bike-run format with various distances tailored to different age groups, ensuring a fun and challenging experience for young athletes.
Meanwhile, the top 25 male triathletes from the full IRONMAN will qualify for the prestigous Kona, Hawaii world championship slated Oct. 22-28, joining elite competitors. Fifteen female athletes, on the other hand, will secure their spots in the IM World Championship in Nice, France from Sept. 24-28.
The IM 70.3 Subic Bay offers 45 age-group qualifying slots to the Vinfast IM 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand on Dec. 14-15, with an additional 15 slots reserved exclusively for female participants, promoting gender equality.
Backers of the event are Century Tuna, Subic Bay, Vinfast, HOKA, ROKA, Breitling 1884, Athletic Brewing Co., Hyperice, Maurten, Santini, AG1, Wahoo, Qatar Airways, Fulgaz, TriDot and Always Advancing, Nirvana, Compressport, EKOI, Outside, 2Go, Birch Tree, ION Advanced Electrolyte Drink, Lightwater, NLEX, SCTEX, NLEX Connector, One Sport, Cignal, Santé, Sportograf.com, Teresa Marble and The Philippine Star.
