INQUIRER Sports

PILI, CAMARINES SUR? New Zealander Terenzo Bozzone ruled the inaugural Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines that was marred by tragedy at the CamSur Watersports Complex in this province.

Bozzone held off noted Ironman champion Chris McCormack of Australia in the final 100 meters of the concluding run leg to bag the $6,000 top prize.

A pall of gloom descended on the inaugural event, however, after a participant in the relay division died while taking part in the swim leg for Team Alamat.

Organizers identified the fatality as 52-year-old Miguel Vasquez, president of pre-need group Permanent Plans Inc.

Worried members of Team Alamat alerted officials when Vasquez could not be found after all swim participants had emerged from the CWC Cable Park lake.

He was later found unconscious beneath the shallow lake and was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Bozzone, who was born in South Africa but raised in New Zealand, won the men?s race despite experiencing a tough spill four days ago in Australia while training with, ironically, McCormack.

?You?re in a racing environment, so you got to give it all when the going gets tough,? said Bozzone. ?Everyone was really pushing the pace.?

Bozzone clocked 3 hours, 51 minutes and 25 seconds while McCormack timed 3:52:18.

Eleven-time Ironman champion Lisa Bentley of Canada ruled the distaff side with a come-from-behind victory in 4:24:29. American Gina Kehr and Charlotte Paul of Australia finished behind Bentley in that order.

?The run was truly a test of survival,? said Bentley. ?It was like running inside an oven. I have never run in such conditions. I almost quit several times.?

Asian Games silver medalist Nonoy Jopson was the best finisher among Filipino entries with a time of 4:38:32.

Alaska CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, whose Sunrise Events Inc. organized the event, informed the family of Vasquez of the tragedy and promised to extend all necessary assistance.

?Just recently, Miguel joined us in an open-water swim in Batangas,? said Uytengsu, a friend of the deceased. ?Unfortunately, those of us in endurance events know that deaths do occur and almost all of them happen in the swim leg.?

?This is always a risk but whenever it does happen, it is deeply saddening.?

Bozzone was the first to surface from the 1.9 km Lago Del Rey Lake but was soon overtaken by swim specialist Pete Jacobs in the second swim part at the 580m CWC Cable Park Lake.

Eight-time New Zealand Ironman champ Cameron Brown took the lead at the 35 km mark of the bike race. But Brown faded towards the end of the course as McCormack wrested the lead at the transition.

Brown (3:52:31) finished third while Jacobs (3:56:51) wound up fourth.