Members of the Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group (TLTG) Go for Gold who will be competing in the first race of the Alaska Ironkids this year in Davao City. | Contributed Photo
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Members of the Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group (TLTG) Go for Gold hope to continue their winning streak in this year’s first race of the Alaska Ironkids on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Azuela Cove here.
This despite some of the members of the team have already moved up in the higher age groups.
“Maski nisaka na ila edad, positive mi nga maka podium gihapon karon ang nakapodium sa una,” said Mary Joana Remolino, one of the team’s coaches.
(Even if they are older now, we’re positive that those who got podium finishes before will still be able to make the podium.)
Hoping to maintain their fine form are Matthew Justine Hermosa, Earol Belonguil, Jacob Clint Lipura, Jacob Kennedy Lipura, Jeanna Mariel Cañete, Rhexiel Belonguil, Kenchie Luke Cabando, and Christy Ann Perez.
Other TLTG Go for Gold members seeing action are Dave Zachary Fernandez, Akio Habana, John Fernan Flores, Kendra Leigh Cabando, Reece Dominique Polinar, James Fernan Flores, Kurt Gabin Cabando, Jason Christopher Cañete, Kian Manabat and Brent Diesmo.
Cebu City Rider Omega Triathlon Team will also be having one representative in Marielle Estreba, who is hoping to improve her second place finish last year in the 13-15 category.
Unlike last year, however, this year’s Alaska Ironkids here in Davao will no longer be a triathlon, but just an aquathlon or a swim-run race.
Princess Galura, the general manager of Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI), which organizes the race, said they opted to have just an aquathlon race this year to allow more kids to participate.
“Last year kasi we only have 87 participants and we figured because the event is new here, maybe most of them don’t have bikes yet so we decided to hold just an aquathlon,” said Galura.
The decision to make it an aquathlon paid off because the race attracted more than double than last year’s participants and now has 200 children competing.
“We don’t want the cost of buying a bike to be an impediment for kids to participate in a race,” further added Harvey Uong, marketing and business development director of the Alaska Milk Corporation. “Let’s lower the barrier to enter, no need to save for a bike.”
The event organized by the SEI to usher in the IRONMAN 70.3 is open to children aged six to 14 years old and is an ideal activity to introduce children to sports.
The IRONKIDS is the children’s version of the IRONMAN wherein they get to either swim, bike and run.
The race will start at 5 a.m. /bmjo