First day of registration attracts 2,200 entries

Just a day after registration started for the 2014 Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines, the number of slots available has almost been filled up.

In fact, project director of the Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) Princess Galura said they have already surpassed the number of participants who joined this year’s event held at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City last August.

“We are happy to announce that we have already surpassed this year’s number of participants. The slots are almost out,” Galura said. “We are expecting to draw in 2,500 participants, but for now we are at 2,200, mostly enlisted in the individual and relay categories.”

Registration for next year’s event started yesterday. According to Galura, 400 foreign triathletes have also registered, including one elite triathlete. She also said that noted personalities like Kim Atienza, Matteo Guidicelli and Senator Pia Cayetano are among those who registered.

This year’s race held last Aug. 4 attracted 2,150 participants, a huge increase compared to the 1,200 triathletes it attracted in 2011, which was the first year Cebu hosted the event.

For next year’s race, scheduled for Aug. 3 starting once again at the Shangri-La, Galura said they are expecting 2,500 to join.

“We are hoping that we can reach our target of 2,500 participants,” Galura said.

Galura added that the remaining slots will come from their triple-tri registration package composed of three triathlon events—the Century Tuna 5150 in Subic on June 29, Safeguard Active 5150 in Bohol on Sept. 28 and the Cobra Ironman 70.3. Aside from the triple triathlon package, there will also be slots for the community and CEO divisions of the Cobra Ironman 70.3.

There will be no extension in the online registration since SEI wants to prepare for the race early.

Next year’s hosting of the Ironman event will be the third straight for Cebu. The first three editions were hosted by Camarines Sur.