SUBIC—Safety is of paramount concern but competition will be stiff when the Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon blasts off today with world-class athletes vowing to go all out in a course laid out in and around this former American naval base.
Alaska Corp. boss Wilfred Uytengsu, whose Sunrise Events organizes the event, said they will implement new safety measures to ensure nobody gets hurt among the expected 1,285 participants.
With Iron Man competitions in the world focusing more on the safety of the athletes, Uytengsu said he expects the new rules—mostly in the treacherous swim event—to be adopted by organizers of future events.
“First of all we marked the swim course off better so the swimmers stay on course; that’s been done with the buoys,” Uytengsu told the Inquirer.
There will also be rafts every 250 meters for swimmers to hold on to just in case they felt the need amid the rush and splash.
“For those who are not very confident in the water, we’re giving them a chance to kind of hold on to the raft, regroup, you know, catch their wits about,” he said.
But the competition will remain as fierce with professional triathletes in the fold including Mikal Bucek of Slovakia, Simon Agoston of Hungary, Caroline Steffen of Switzerland, and Australians Casey Monroe, Eric Watson, Michael Murphy, Jodie Scott, Justin Granger and Belinda Granger.
The Philippines will be represented by 2014 Challenge Philippines titlist Monica Torres in the elite female category.