Echavez joins Ironman relay

CEBU’s former top triathlete Lohriz Echavez–Mendel is on her final stage of training with her relay team and is confident about facing the country’s top triathletes in the Cobra energy drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines on Aug. 5.

“I did a 94-km ride today for my third ride since giving birth, I am confident that we’ll do good in the race,” said Lopez, who is the 2011 second finisher in the 25-29 age group and was a qualifier for the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

In 2009, she won the 18-24 age group and in 2010 competed in the relay team.

This year, she will be with Amale Jopson, who will start with the 1.9-kilometer swim, and top runner Joy Tabal in the relay division.

“I am really excited and nervous (because of minimal training) to be part of the country’s biggest triathlete race, even if I’m just doing the relay. It will put me back in the grid and the outcome would gauge if a comeback would not be so far away,” Lopez said. “If everything will turn out okay, I plan to race with my husband next year.”

Veteran marathoner turned triathlete Mendel of Team Fish 18 will be having his debut in the Ironman 70.3 in the Filipino men’s elite category.

Meanwhile, PHL under 23 member Rochelle Tan has confirmed that she will still be competing in the Filipino women elite despite an injury she got from competing in an off-road duathlon in Danao, Bohol two weeks ago.

“Sakit gihapon akong ankle but I’ll just do run/walk during the running as long as I can finish the race,” Tan said.

Cebu coordinator Oscar Rodriguez said that aside from Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue and Talisay will also be fielding cheerers along the 90-kilometer bike phase, which will pass by the two cities.

Rodriguez said that Talisay City will field 10,000 cheerers as well as traffice personel and policemen.
“Mandaue is trying to match this number of 10,000 cheerers,” said Rodriguez.