‘Century’ race today

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Top Philippine bet Nikko Huelgas may be battling the flu, but vowed to carry the fight for the national team in the Century Tuna 5150 Triathlon Philippines kicking off here today.

Huelgas, the country’s record holder and the first Filipino to shatter the two-hour barrier in the event, also expects teammate John Leerams Chicano to come out strong in the 1.5K swim-40K bike-10K run Olympic distance race that drew nearly a thousand triathletes.

“I may not be 100 percent, but that’s not going to stop me,” said Huelgas. “Surely I will race. I’ve been consistent in training. My teammates and I have been focusing on the bike and run.”

Huelgas and Chicano are ranged against a tough international field led by two-time Ironman world champion Chris McCormack, Australian elite racers Luke McKenzie and Ben Allen, and Sweden’s Fredrick Croneberg.

“To come back here is phenomenal,” Allen, who placed third in last year’s men’s pro race, said in a press conference yesterday.

Australia’s Belinda Granger is defending her crown against a similarly competitive women’s field that includes United Kingdom’s Jacqui Slack and the Philippines’ top female racer Monica Torres.

The race fires off with a deep-water swim from Hanjin Fast Craft Pier heading to All Hands Beach.

But the bike and run legs, which will pass by the Port of Olongapo and the Subic Golf Course, may be tougher as light to moderate showers are expected during the day.

“If it rains, it changes the race,” said Granger.

Century Canning Corp. vice president and general manager Greg Banzon, who’s competing in the age-group division, said the number of participants underscores the growing popularity of the sport.

“We’re very happy with the high turnout,” said Banzon.