THE future of Philippine triathlon takes the spotlight ahead of the pros as they dispute top honors in various age divisions in the Alaska Fortified IronKids Philippines on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu.
Now back as a swim-bike-run event, the chase for crowns in four age groups ranging from six to 14 years old is expected to be fierce with Cebuana Moira Erediano gunning for back-to-back titles in the Girls’ 13-14 category (400m swim- 12km bike-3km run).
Three hundred and 48 kids have so far registered as of Friday with the roster expected to swell before the deadline on Aug. 7. Other titles to be disputed are in the 11-12 (300m swim-9km bike-2km run), 9-10 (200m swim-6km bike-1.5km run) and 6-8 (100m swim-3km bike-1km run) age categories.
Fresh faces are also expected to shine as they seek to upstage the fancied names in the event and which serves as a fitting appetizer to the second Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships powered by Philam Vitality on Aug. 11.
The Herbalife IronGirl will actually kick off the Ironman 70.3 weekend on Friday, Aug. 9, with 1,400 joining the 5K fun run for Girls’ 12-years-old-and-above.
Other activities lined up on Saturday are the TYR Swim Out, the Expo Open, the pro race briefing, and a race-day tips from Ironman legends Lance Watson and Belinda Granger.
Launched over a decade ago, the Alaska IronKids has become one of the highlights of each Ironman competition. Organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and sponsored by Alaska, the event is staged to promote a well-balanced lifestyle for kids and at the same time serves as venue for family bonding. It is also held to help kids develop the values of discipline, hard work, integrity and determination through a series of races.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s Mauricio Mendez braces for a strong challenge from the likes of former world champion Tim Reed and multi-titled Sam Betten along with fellow Australians Tim Van Berkel, Luke McKenzie, Lindsey Lawry, Mitch Robins and Justin Ghosh, Czech Jakub Langhammer, Bahrain’s Eric Watson and New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone in the centerpiece men’s pro category of the eighth Ironman 70.3 to be staged in the country’s triathlon hub.
Over 2,100 triathletes from a record 57 nations are seeing action with Swiss Caroline Steffen and Dimity Lee Duke from Australia tipped to dispute the women’s tiara with Hungary’s Anna Eberhardt, Laura Wood of New Zealand, Guam’s Manami IIjima, Aussies Laura Dennis and Amanda Wilson and Frankie Sanjana of Great Britain all set to sneak into the title picture. (PR)