Medellin to host triathlon event on April 19

CEBU, Philippines - After seven years, the municipality of Medellin will once again host a triathlon event dubbed as ‘Funtastic Medellin Triathlon Cup’ slated on April 19 at the Alpine Wharf Kawit.

"This is an opportunity to showcase the beauty of the town as it is also one of the visited places in Central Visayas," said Jeanette Malinao, Medellin's tourism consultant, during a press conference yesterday at Fuente Pension.

Triathletes will be dealing with a new route.  The categories to be contested are the long, sprint and super-sprint distances.

The long distance event features 1.6K swim, 60K bike and 15K run while the sprint covers half of the distance in long distance, while the super sprint has 400m swim, 12K bike and 3.5K run.

The long distance action will be divided into eight age brackets for both the male and female action that include 19-under, 20-24, 25-30, 31-35,36-40, 41-45, 46-49 and 50-above.

The sprint distance, on the other hand, will have the male and female open and the relay event which is composed of three members per team. The super sprint will be open to all starting at ages 12-year-old and above.

For those who are interested, one can register online through www.sugbutriathlon.com or at The Brick located at Ebloc Tower 1/JP Morgan building at the Cebu IT Park or at SATS office across Gaisano Grand Mall in Barangay Talamban.

Registration fee is pegged at P2,500 for long distance, P2,000 for the sprint and P1,500 for each member of the sprint relay. For the super sprint, participants will pay P1,500 for early bird promo until March 25. Those who cannot make it to the early bird deadline will have to pay an additional P500.

Entry fee is inclusive of event shirt, swim cap, lunch, and finisher's medal. (FREEMAN)