Triathlon A-listers in the fold

SUBIC FREEPORT—Australian Belinda Granger returns to defend her crown and Ironman World champion Chris McCormack banners a competitive men’s roster in the Century Tuna 5150 Triathlon Philippines that fires off here tomorrow.

Granger ran away with the women’s pro title last year with a time of two hours, 22 minutes and 35 seconds—five minutes ahead of her closest pursuer in the 1.5K swim-40K bike-10K run Olympic distance.

McCormack, a two-time winner of the Ironman World, leads a robust 10-man Australian delegation that includes last year’s third placer Ben Allen and Luke McKenzie.

The Philippines’ finest triathletes are gunning for podium finishes, a year after John Leerams Chicano crashed the top five and emerged as the best Filipino finisher.

Fighting alongside Chicano are PH record holder Nikko Huelgas, Franklin Peñalosa, Monica Torres, Kim Mangrobang and local elite racers August Benedicto, Dhill Anderson Lee, Philip Dueñas and Noy Jopson.

The punishing race gets going with an open swim in the waters of Hanjin Fast Craft Pier heading to All Hands Beach. A scenic view serves as backdrop in the bike and run legs, which will pass by the Port of Olongapo and the Subic golf course in Binictican.

The race has drawn elite triathletes from 23 countries including the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Germany Singapore, Japan and Taiwan.