Elite field braces for bigger, tougher Cobra Ironman

MANILA, Philippines - The Cobra Ironman 70.3 gets bigger, tougher this year when it fires off Aug. 4 in Cebu with the field tacking the swim stage in the sea after racing in a man-made lake the past three years.

The 1.2-km swim competition in the upcoming two-day event ending Aug. 15 will start at the Shangri-La Mactan beach, making the fourth staging the biggest and most challenging edition of the annual endurance race.

Meanwhile, the three Cobra Energy Drink brand ambassadors slug it out for the Cobra 70.3 Ironman Filipino elite champion with titleholder Arland Macasieb raring for another title run after scoring a come-from-behind win in the swim-bike-run event last year.

The Arizona 17-time Ironman finisher and two-time SEA Games medalist owns the record of 9:44 in the Philippine ironman distance.

Neil Catiil, the Cobra 70.3 Ironman Filipino elite winner two years ago, seeks to regain old glory after he was slowed down by hypoglycemia. He struggled to finish third last year that saw him pull out on a stretcher after crossing the finish line.

Noy Jopson, the third Cobra Ironman brand ambassador from Cebu, hopes to flash his familiarity with the route. Winner of the inaugural Cobra Ironman crown in 2009, Jopson is a Ford Ironman World Championships Qualifier in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA.

Back-to-back overall champion Pete Jacobs of Australia sets out for a three-peat although a slew of others will be out to foil his bid, including Terenzo Bozzone of New Zealand, who reigned in 2009.

“Cobra Energy Drink is very proud to bring back the country’s most anticipated sporting event now held in the wonderful island city of Cebu. We are very excited this year especially because of our Ironman champion endorsers Macasieb, Catiil and Jopson – all of whom are high-caliber world-class athletes that represent the Filipino’s indomitable spirit and the world class quality of Cobra Energy Drink,” said Abe Cipriano, marketing manager of Asia Brewery Inc.

All Cobra Energy Drink variants are power-packed with Taurine, Inositol, Ginseng and Vitamin B Complex from DSM Quali-Blends, the world’s largest and most trusted pharmaceutical vitamin supplier, ensuring world-class quality and nutrition from every bottle. 

In a recent talk, Dr. Hua Jing MD, Phd of John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA said, “Cobra Energy Drink benefits not only your energy but also your health as it is packed with essential vitamins and minerals. In this day and age where many people don’t have ready access to balanced nutrition, Cobra Energy Drink can help supplement your daily requirements.”