IronMan Asia Pacific meet to return to Cebu next year
Television personality and triathlete Kim Atienza talks to young kids who will see action in today’s Alaska IronKids which is a side event of tomorrow’s Cobra IronMan 70.3 Philippines at the Shangri-La’s Resort and Spa in Mactan.
(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
FOR the second year, Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) will bring to Cebu the IronMan 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships on August next year.
Last year’s staging drew 2,978 participants from 50 countries that started and finished at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Mactan which will also host the 2018 edition.
This was announced yesterday by SEI CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Teo during the Meet the Pros briefing at the Marquee of Shangri-La Mactan.
“In partnership with SEI, we are very happy to announce that the Asia Pacific Championships will be back in Cebu next year,” said Teo.
Uytengsu said they are thrilled to bring back the Asia Pacific Championships here to highlight the 10th anniversary of SEI which will also stage a full IronMan in Subic Bay, Zambales on June 2018.
“We have a lot of things in store for our 10th anniversary next year. Aside from the full IronMan, Cebu will also host the Asia Pacific Championships,” said Uytengsu.
Lapu-lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza meanwhile, accepted the daunting task of hosting again the Asia Pacific Championship.
Tomorrow, the Cobra0 Ironman 70.3 Philippines will unfold with a 1.9-kilometer swim, 90k bike and 21k run covering four cities.
“From 560 triathletes in the first Cobra Ironman 70.3 in 2009 in Camarines Sur, it gained a massive following as Filipinos embraced the concept of multisports. I am so happy to have brought it here in my hometown six years ago,” added Uytengsu.
Reed to defend title, Steffen won’t
A total of 27 pro triathletes led by two-time defending champion and IronMan 70.3 world champion Tim Reed will compete this Sunday along with XTerra world champion and two time Ironman 70.3 world champion Mauricio Mendez of Mexico.
“I am extremely fit and strong this year. I am nervous and excited at the same time considering that there’s a lot of elite athletes competing. This will surely push me to another level,” said Reed.
Five-peat women’s pro champion Caroline Steffen of Switzerland on the other hand, will not defend her crown but will vie in the swim leg of the relay event after announcing that she is five months pregnant.
She however, promised to return next year and compete in the regular triathlon.
She picked Aussie pro Amelia Watkinson to win the women’s title.
A total of 2,762 triathletes from 52 countries will race this Sunday.
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