Cebuanos seeing action in Ironman 70.3
Cebuanos are not exactly new to triathlon competitions. In fact, there have been many triathlon races held here since 2000 that have produced many notable triathletes.
Come Aug. 5, more than a hundred Cebuanos are among the 1,700 players competing in Cebu’s first hosting of the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines to be held in the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay.
Local participants to look out for are members of Team Cebu, Team Reborn, FISH18 and Taghap Tri Club, among others.
Team Cebu was supposed to unite all Cebuano triathletes participating in the Half Ironman race. This was thought of late last year when Cebu’s hosting of the Half Ironman was still a rumor.
When organizer Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) confirmed that the international event will leave Camarines Sur where it has been held for three years, Sugbu Triathlon headed by Ralph Arche decided to broach the idea to the Cebu triathlon community.
Team Cebu is actually an emulation of Team Camsur, a squad comprised of Camarines Sur triathletes backed by Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte and competed in the 70.3 IM Philippines hosted by Camsur.
However, unlike Team Camsur, Team Cebu has not received the backing of any local government unit. Despite this, Arche said Team Cebu is a “collective effort of the different triathlon clubs in Cebu” and that they will push through with it with or without the support of the LGUs.
Team Cebu has more than 50 members, six Ironkids and one relay team. Arche admitted that from the start, there were some triathletes who cannot commit to the team because they have their own respective sponsors.
The lack of funding also derailed the team’s growth. However, Arche is not losing hope and is banking on this first undertaking to get the notice of more sponsors and allow them to unite all Cebuano triathletes under the team.
NOTABLE MEMBERS
Some of the notable members of Team Cebu are Kristian “King” Lim, Lovelienel Casidsid, Tabuelan Mayor Rex Gerona, Randy Truya, Zaldy Velano, Anton Regis, Ian Rusiana and Arche himself.
Although some of them will be competing in the Filipino elite category, most will be seeing action in the age-group categories.
Aside from Noy Jopson, who will be Cebu’s top contender in the Filipino elite category, there is also comebacking triathlete Chris Aldeguer of FISH18. Aldeguer used to be a member of the RP triathlon team.
Aldeguer is joined in the FISH18 by champion adventure racer Leo Oracion, Miguel Flores, Gerrie Calinawan, Franz Baguio and Mendel Lopez.
Cebu’s current top female triathlete—Rochelle Tan will also be seeing action in the Filipino Elite category.
Cebu will also have a strong relay team in Jopson and Lopez’s better halves. Amale Mendezona-Jopson, Lorhiz Echavez-Lopez and Mary Joy Tabal have formed an all-female relay squad tagged as Team Matteo.
Lorhiz explained that Matteo Guidicelli was supposed to do the run for the team hence the team’s name, however, he pulled out due to another event and thus was replaced by champion runner Tabal. However, that event did not push through so Guidicelli is now joining the race as an individual racer.
Lorhiz would have been Cebu’s best bet in the Filipino elite, however, she hasn’t been consistently training as she gave birth about six months ago.
Lorhiz’s younger sister—Loren Dale, a champion swimmer is also seeing action in the relay category. She is competing as part of Team Alaska TBB alongside Dhill Anderson Lee and Marc Altura.
