Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines: Two world champs face off Alaska Ironkids to spice up country’s biggest and best triathlon race

CEBU, Philippines - A mouth-watering showdown between two world champions Pete Jacobs and Chris McCormack, both from Australia, will surely be the centerpiece of intense battle as the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines returns to Cebu for its fifth edition as well as the Alaska Ironkids Triathlon on August 3-4 at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa in Mactan Island.

"It's going to be a very exciting face-off of two world champions, something that the Cebuanos should look forward to," said Princess Galura of Sunrise Events Inc., the lead organizer of biggest and best Ironman 70.3 race in this part of the world with over 2,000 participants from 35 countries across six continents.

The 31-year-old Jacobs, three-time defending champion, will return to the Queen City of the South seeking for his fourth straight victory at the race he loves to use as a kick start to his final Kona preparations.

“This race is perfect to get a feel and reminder of what a hot race really feels like. I then use these memories in my training for Hawaii to visualize how it will feel, and prepare myself mentally to be stronger for those hot conditions” said Jacobs, who ruled last year's Wold Ironman Championship held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Though heavily favored, Jacobs must brace for a tough challenge from a bunch of strong talents in the field led by fellow Australian McCormack, a two-time worth triathlon champion who won the coveted Ironman titles in 2007 and 2010 where he defeated two-time defending champion Craig Alexander.

The other notable pros in a star-studded field of foreign entries include Courtney Atkinson from Australia, Cameron Brown of New Zealand, Brent McMahon of Canada, Mathieu O'Halloran, Fredrik Cronberg of Sweden, Michael Murphy of Ireland, and two-time Vaseline Xterra Off-Road-Triathlon Philippines champion Ben Allen, who is also from the Land Down Under.

In the women's division, defending champion Caroline Steffen of Alaska Team TBB is out to defend her throne. Her strongest challenge will come from 2011 champion and 2012 third placer Belinda Granger, who is fresh from her triumph at the Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon in Subic last June.

Steffen will also have her hands full against the likes of Bree Wee from the United States (who placed second last year), Alaska Team TBB's Christie Sym, and Jacqui Slack of Great Britain.

The Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines is a qualifier for the IronMan World Championships Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada on September 8.

The grueling race on August 4 features a 1.2-mile swim in open water at the beach of the Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa, a 56-mile bike ride that will traverse four cities (Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay), and a 13.1-mile run at Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City.

In a race that sold out in four days, with medals and trophies designed by Cebuano world class designer Kenneth Cobonpue and the high profile field and quality of the race and surrounding events, the Philippines Ironman 70.3 is a standout event in Asia-Pacific region, and an international benchmark.

As aperitif to the main event, the Alaska Ironkids Triathlon will take place on August 3. It is the local junior version of the international Ironkids triathlon series that is open to youngsters age six to 14 years old. The event aims to promote health among the young through proper nutrition and an active lifestyle.

The Alaska-presented Ironkids has truly become an avenue for children to pursue their dreams and aspirations to become outstanding athletes and in the process develop positive values and a healthy well-being. It has grown from its humble beginning as a Sunday fun run for children to a national sporting event that has become a key training ground for the country’s aspiring athletes. (FREEMAN)