World’s best triathletes gather in Cebu for Ironman 70.3

LAPU-LAPU CITY – Cebu will be the epicenter of the triathlon universe at least for this weekend as it hosts two major events – the Alaska IronKids Philippines Saturday and the Cobra IronMan 70.3 Phl Sunday – that will start and end at the Shangri-La Hotel facing the scenic Mactan beach here.

Already in its sixth edition, the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Phl and the Alaska IronKids continue to grow as a record of about 2,600 participants from 40 countries across seven continents are joining.

So anticipated these events are that all slots available for the race were sold out in just four hours after they were offered to the public early in the year, beating last year's mark of four days.

"The sport has grown tremendously in the Philippines but we are also attracting triathletes from all over the world with over 40 countries and all seven continents represented," said Alaska Milk and Sunrise Events, Inc. president and CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu in Friday's press conference at the Shangri-La.

All eyes are on Australian Pete Jacobs and Swiss Caroline Steffen with the former eyeing to regain the title he lost to countryman Courtney Atkinson in last year's staging after winning the men's elite events for three straight years and the latter looking for her third straight women's elite title.

Craig Alexander, a two-time winner of the IronMan World Championship in 2007 and 2010 and the 2012 Long Distance world champion, is also plunging into action along with other contenders Cameron Brown of New Zealand, Fredrick Cronberg of Sweden and Michael Murphy of Ireland.

Steffen, who represents the Alaska Tri-Aspire Team, is expected to get tough challenges from 2011 champion and 2012 runner up Belinda Granger of Australia, last year's second placer Bree Wee and Katya Meyers of the United States, Katya Rave of Germany, Dimity Lee Duke, Rebecca Hoschke and Michelle Wu of Australia and Monica Torres, the country's lone entry in the Open division.

For today though, it will be the Alaska IronKids, which has been part of this annual weekend festivities since 2010, that will take center stage as over a record 170 participants six to 14 years old are joining.

The Alaska IronKids Phl has also become an avenue for children to pursue their dreams and aspirations to become outstanding athletes and in the process, sports develop values like determination, hard work, teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship, qualities of real champions.

Early Friday, Jacobs, Steffen, Meyers, Granger, Alaska Tri-Aspire Team coach Matt O'Halloran and team members Jenny Guerrero and Banjo Norte joined Alaska Ironkids Phl participants in "Gatas for Breakfast" program, a milk-drinking activity for less fortunate kids of Mactan Elementary School.

The event is being sponsored by Alaska Milk Corp., Aqua Sphere, Asia Miles, Cathay Pacific, Century Tuna, David's Salon, Devant, Gatorade, Globe Telecom, GU Energy Gel, Intercare, Kenneth Cobonpue, Asics, 2Go, Oakley, Pinkberry, Prudential Guarantee, Safeguard, Suarez and Sons, Inc., Timex, Finisher Pix and Shangri-La's Mactan Resorts and Spa.

The Philippine STAR, MultiSport Magazine and ABS-CBN Sports Action are media partners with BE Resorts, Crimson Resort and Spa, Movenpick Resort and Spa and Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino as hotel partners.