INQUIRER Sports

THE COBRA IRONMAN 70.3 PHILIPpines at the CamSur Water Sports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur, not only drew rave reviews for the high-level competition provided by a world-class field but also for a well-organized race.

Notwithstanding the death of a participant, organizers of the event have reportedly received assurances from the top foreign racers to return for another crack at the crown next year.

The death of a relay race participant, Miguel Vazquez, 51, in the swim leg marred the event staged by Sunrise Events Inc. and hosted by the provincial government of Camarines Sur.

Ruling the elite races that featured scores of top foreign bidders were New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone and 11-time world champ Lisa Bentley of Canada. Bozzone finished the race in three hours, 51 minutes and 25 seconds to nip Ironman titlist Chris McCormack of Australia by 53 seconds.

Bentley ruled the women’s event in 4:24.29. American Gina Kehr came in second followed by Charlotte Paul of Australia.

“The run was truly a test of survival,” said Bentley. “It was like running inside an oven. I have never run in such conditions.”

The race featured a 1.9-km swim, a 90.1-km bike course and a 21.1-km run.

Among those who were impressed by the staging of the event was Akiko Thomson, commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission and a three-time Olympic swimmer.

“My hat’s off to Fred Uytengsu and Gov. LRay Villafuerte,” said Thomson in the Ironman Philippines 70.3 website. “This is such a wonderful, well-organized race.”

Uytengsu said he had high hopes for triathlon in the country and that played a big reason in his decision to help organize an international event of such magnitude.

“This is not a sport where you need to be 7-foot-2,” said Uytengsu. “We don’t need to be tall to be competitive in triathlon. So I think it’s a couple of things like having the training access, discipline and a lot of guts.”

The businessman-sportsman, himself a triathlete, said events such as the recent Ironman race will help Filipinos get used to world-class competition.