The top three winners in the male pro category. /Mars Alison
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Jorry Ycong of the Cebu City Rider Omega Triathlon Team is celebrating his 29th birthday today, March 24, with a second place finish in the Asian Elite category of the Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao that is ongoing here at the Azuela Cove.
Although he was unable to defend his title, Ycong remained the highest ranking finisher from Cebu.
Ycong and Norte at the finish line. /Mars Alison
He exchange places with Asian Elite champion, Alaska Triathlon Aspire’s August Benedicto, who finished second to him last year.
Benedicto clocked four hours, 19 minutes and 58 seconds while Ycong posted a time of 4:33:01.
Ycong’s teammate, Banjo Norte, maintained his third place finish last year by crossing the finish line at the same place with a time of 4:33:02.
The international race organized by Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) had a new male pro champion in Germany’s Markus Rolli who had a strong two-hour finish in the 90-kilometer bike section to post the fastest time of 3:49:29.
The female pro title went to Czech Republic’s Radka Kahlefeldt who successfully made it two-in-row here.
Placing second and third to Rolli were Australia’s Craig Alexander, a five-time ironman world champion, and Tim Van Berkel. Alexander clocked 3:52:21 while Van Berkel posted a time of 3:53:05.
After engaging Kahlefeldt in a neck to neck battle, Switzerland’s Caroline Steffen eventually dropped to second place with her time of 4:19:28. Third was Australia’s Kirralee Seidel with her time of 4:28:37. The race was still ongoing as of this writing./dcb
The top two female pro winners. / Mars Alison