Alaska IronKids Triathlon in Cebu on Aug. 4

THE ALASKA IronKids Triathlon 2012 comes to Cebu as the 5th leg of the series will be held on Aug. 4 at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa.

The event will usher in the 2012 Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines, which will also start and end at the Shangri-La on Aug. 5.

Wilfred Uytengsu, president of the Sunrise Events, Inc. and also the chief executive officer of the Alaska Milk Corp., said the event aims to make the young realize that they can have fun while perspiring.

Those who can join the competition are children aged six to 14 years old. They can either be new to the sport or have already competed in triathlon events.

The Alaska IronKids is the junior counterpart of the world-renowned triathlon event IronMan and categories to be featured are 6-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14 age groups.

Uytengsu said that there are already 150 participants who have registered for the event.

The number already surpassed the 95 participants who saw action last year at the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) in Pili, Camarines Sur.

Expected to defend their titles are frontrunners and early race favorites Tara Borlain and Eric Almendral, last year’s winners in the 6-8; Sophia Marie Vizcarra and Lance Vincent Plaza, winners of the 11-12; and Magali Echauz and Justine Kyle Mapalo, winners of the 13-14 category.

Registration is still open and those interested can log on to www.ironkidsphil.com.

The Alaska IronKids has so far completed three legs this year— two marathons, held at University of Makati and Mall of Asia and an aquathlon held at the Palms Country Club. Another triathlon is scheduled on Oct. 23 at Pico de Loro in Batangas.

Aside from Alaska, other sponsors for the event are McDonalds, Time Studio, Powerade, Prudential Guarantee, Private Iris, and Viva Mineral Water./CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON