Ironman champs face tougher field Sunday

LAPU-LAPU CITY—Caroline Steffen of Switzerland and Canadian Brent McMahon face the challenge of a tougher field when they defend their titles in the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines this Sunday.

Steffen, a two-time Ironman European champion, guns for a third consecutive crown in the Pro Elite division while McMahon, who won the punishing competition in different parts of the world six times, hopes to again rule the most gruelling swim-bike-run contest in the Asia-Pacific region.

Both have to be at their best Sunday to prevail over their challengers, who are expected to go all out in the back-breaking course that starts on the pristine beaches of this historic city.

World pro champions Craig “Crowie” Alexander and Pete “PJ” Jacobs of Australia are major threats to steal the limelight from McMahon. And there is Australian Sam Betten, who has vowed to redeem himself from a silver-medal performance last year after sputtering in the run stage on the sinewy roads of Mactan Island.

Alexander is a three-time Ironman World Champion while Jacob won the toughest race in the planet in 2012.

Australians Cameron Brown, Luke Mckenzie, Tim Van Berkel, Tim Reed, Justin Granger and Clayton Fettel are also expected to challenge McMahon.

In the women’s race, Steffen will be up against a much stronger opposition in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90 km bike and 2 km run event with the main challenge expected to come from Australians Belinda Granger and Dimity Lee-Dukes, American Beth Gerdes and Carole Fuchs.

Filipino Elite champions August Benedicto and Joyette Jopson will lead the local campaign along with John Chicano, Jonard Saim and Monica Torres.

Serving as the qualifying race for the 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Sunshine Coast, Australia, the event has lured a record-breaking 2,618 entries from 52 countries.

About 1,900 homegrown triathletes are competing, including 300 Cebuanos, according to competition organizer Sunrise Events Inc.

Before the Elite race, the 2015 Alaska Ironkids Triathlon takes centerstage tomorrow with Tara Borlain and Juan Francisco Baniqued hoping to extend their reign for the third consecutive year in the 11-12 years category.

For the fourth staging here, the finisher’s medal will be designed by world-renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue.

To spice up the four-day event, organizers are also putting up a world-class Triathlon Expo, easily the biggest in the Asia-Pacific with over 36 exhibitors.