Atkinson’s absence makes Men’s Pro a wide open race

Atkinson

Ironman Philippines 2013 champion Courtney Atkinson’s inability to defend his title in this year’s staging of the country’s premier triathlon is a breath of good news for the rest of the Men’s Professional Category contenders.

This Sunday, the ones tipped to battle it out for Atkinson’s title include eight Aussies, one each from New Zealand, Canada, Korea and Bahrain as well as 2012 Ironman Philippines winner Pete Jacobs and two-time Ironman World Championship-Kona title holder, Chris McCormack.

Cameron Brown of New Zealand who finished first in the recent Cairns Ironman 2014, has joined in all five prior stagings of Ironman Philippines 70.3 but has failed to come out on top.

“Lahat ng staging ng Ironman Philippines, nandoon siya pero laging nasisilat. We want [Brown] to have a good fight this year,” said Sunrise Events Inc project director, Princess Galura.

This year, young bloods are expected to challenge the front runners.

“Brent McMahon who is 25 years old is a very very good swimmer. And he won a 70.3 race in the US three weeks ago,” Galura revealed, referring to McMahon’s win at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii where he now holds the record for largest official time margin of victory in the race’s 11-year history.

Meanwhile, the frontrunners in the Women’s Pro division include defending champion Caroline Steffen, Bree Wee, Belinda Granger Katya Rabe, Dimity Lee Duke, Jasnin Sax, Rebecca Hoshke and Filipina Monica Torres.