Phl triathletes deliver goods in Ironman 70.3

MANILA, Philippines - The 2011 Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines Triathlon held in CamSur Water Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur was a huge success, drawing a remarkable roster of 1,117 athletes from the Philippines and across the globe, with Australian Pete Jacobs coming out on top to become a two-time champion in the overall men’s division.

A total of 28 countries were all in record to compete and participate in the three-part and grueling triathlon consisting of 1.9KM swim, 90KM bike and 21.1KM run. Top triathlon teams from around the country joined the competition and saw strong results from its members.

Teams that fielded their best athletes included Team Fitness First, known for its consistent top-tier performance in all Philippine Ironman events; Team Starting Line, which debuted this year with tri coach Raoul Floresca as team lead; and Team 7Eleven-R.O.X, which finished third in the all-female relay category. All three teams were given full support by Nathan, one of the world’s top names in hydration gear and multisport accessories.

2011 Champion Jacobs, who is still recovering from an injury, maintained a strong lead throughout the race and even broke his own record from last year by seven minutes clocking in at an impressive 3:51:43. Jesse Thomas of the US and Cameron Brown of New Zealand took the second and third place at the overall men’s division.

The frontrunners in the women’s category were led by another Australian, Belinda Granger followed by American Amanda Stevens and Bree Wee placing third. Monica Torres capped off the race with a three-peat as first placer in the Philippine women’s elite category, clocking in at 4:55:15.