Prime movers behind the upcoming Cebu City Triathlon pose in the event’s launching yesterday at the Cebu Country Club. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Triathletes will have something to look forward to next year as Cebu City will host its first-ever triathlon.
The 1st Cebu City Triathlon will be held on January 25 at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) with big cash prizes at stake.
Organized by the Cornerstone Group in cooperation with CCSC and the Cebu City Sports Commission, the event will be one of its kind as it will be having a 750-meter swim course distance while the run and bike portion will traverse through Cebu City’s major thoroughfares.
The race will feature also a 20-kilometer bike and a 5k run which is considered by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) as a sprint distance triathlon.
The event will be an added attraction for Cebu City. Sporting events lined-up for January next year are the Cebu City Marathon and the Sinulog Football Festival.
“We all know that Sinulog showcases a festival of art but with the addition of this triathlon event and some other existing sporting events lined-up for Sinulog, I think we can already say that Sinulog is also now considered a festival of sports,” said CCSC manager and Sinulog Foundation Inc. chairman Ricky Ballesteros in the event’s launching yesterday at the Cebu Country Club.
Also gracing the launching were Cornerstone Group founders Steve Manaquis and Joaquin Moras, race director Niño Abarquez and Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco.
A whooping P100,000 in cash prizes await the top three winning in the male and female categories. Special prizes will be given to the winners in the eight age-group categories.
“With the partnership of Cornerstone and CCSC, we envisioned that this upcoming event on January will become big in the near future like the Cebu City Marathon,” said Hayco.
The swimming portion, which has a distance of 750 meters, will make use of the CCSC swimming pool. Participants must complete three loops, each measuring 250 meters, before proceeding to the 20k bike that will lead them to the South Road Properties. The running portion will traverse through Osmeña Boulevard.
“This kind of concept has been used in some parts of the country. Recently, two triathlon races in Manila used swimming pool and the results were as the same as swimming in an open sea. When a triathlete swims in a pool, they easily navigate the course, they are well-contained and well-monitored by marshals and life guards. They can also easily get faster times compared to the open sea where you have to negotiate with the big waves hitting you although you are more buoyant compared to the pool,” said Moras.
Maniquis said organizers will use a timing system capable of handling around 500 triathletes to ensure accurate time and quality race.
He added that this race will fit well with beginners of the sport.
“We all know that when we were still beginners of triathlon, we always have fear in the open sea that’s why we encourage the beginners to join this race because we all know that we are very safe inside a pool.” Manaquis said.
Registration fee is pegged at P2,500. Participants, who joined the 80/80 races that were also organized by Cornerstone Group, will only have to pay P2,200 as they will enjoy loyalty discount.
Registration starts today at the 30 Kitchen + Bar at the Gallery in barangay Mabolo and at the Philippine Sports Commission office in CCSC. There’s also an online registration at cornerstone8080events.com.
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