Ironman attracts 2 world champs

The 2013 Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines slated Aug. 4 at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa will not only be bigger but also promises to be more exciting with the participation of two Ironman World Champions Australian Pete Jacobs and Chris “Macca” McCormack.

The two will be among the 2,150 participants for this year’s event which also includes a world-renowned celebrity whose name organizers want to keep a secret for the time being.

Jacobs won the world title of the full ironman last year in Kona, Hawaii while McCormack clinched the world title in 2007 and 2010. Jacobs is also the three-time defending champion of the Ironman 70.3 Philippines. McCormack, on the other hand, will be racing here for the first time.

Slots for this year’s half Ironman competition were offered last December and all sold out within four days with 650 on the waiting list.

NEW CATEGORY

The organizing Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) also added a new category for this year’s competition, the CEO category open to chief executive officers, presidents or managing directors of companies that earn $5 million in annual revenue.

In a press conference for the event held at the Makati Shangri-La, SEI president Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr. said they set up this category to accommodate the CEOs who still want to race despite lesser time for training and practice.

This year will also see the first Filipino to compete in the professional category. Long-time Filipino Elite female champion Monica Torres will be moving up to a higher category and will go up against defending champion Caroline Steffen, who placed second in the World Championships.

Most number of participants will be coming from Singapore while there is also a marked increase among Australian participants. Participants will also be coming for the first time from Vietnam, Kuwait, Mexico and The Netherlands.

Uytengsu said that the race route will be pretty much the same as last year except in the swim event which route they have reversed from last year’s so participants can easily get to the bike transition.

FULL SUPPORT

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza once again pledged to roll out the red carpet for participants and guests  as it did last year.

Radaza said the city will put up a fisherman’s village and 100 tents with well wishers at the Discovery Bay, commonly known as Mangal, which is the turn-around area for the run section of the race.

“This is simply the best we can offer, a scenic view with historic relevance of us Oponganons,” said Radaza referring to Mangal.

World-renowned Cebuano designer Kenneth Cobonpue has been once again commissioned to design the finisher’s medals and trophies for the event.

Cobonpue expressed delight that his designs last year was voted as the best looking medal for the whole year next to the Olympic medals.

For this year’s design, Cobonpue said he played with the concept of the race’s three events—swim-bike-run.

The design is of three intertwined metals—one to resemble water, the other rubber for the bicycle and the last is of tracks to represent the run course. The medals and trophies will be produced by Suarez Bros.