Reed, Steffen top Cobra Ironman 70.3 PH

Tim Reed of Australia won the male pro title for the second consecutive year in the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines Asia Pacific Championship. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

LAPU-LAPU CITY—Racing here for half a decade, Caroline Steffen has apparently found the formula of seamless success.

The invincible Swiss conquered the same punishing course for the fifth consecutive time to rule the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines Asia Pacific Championship Sunday together with male pro champion Tim Reed of Australia.

Steffen chased down Radka Vodickova of the Czech Republic on the bike and cut loose in the run finale for a record fifth straight female pro diadem with a personal best clocking of four hours, 16 minutes and 19 seconds.

“I think that’s pretty fast, faster than previous years but I don’t really think too much about it,” said Steffen, a two-time Ironman world champion.

What’s crucially important for the 37-year-old former ITU Long Distance Triathlon world champion from Spiez, Switzerland was winning all of her five races in Cebu and emerge Asia Pacific champion this time.

Reed, who also won the male pro title last year, shared the stage with Steffen after going home solo with the fastest time of three hours, 51 minutes and 46 seconds in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90km bike and 21km run event organized by Sunrise Events Inc. with Cobra Energy Drink as title sponsor and Ford as presentor.

“I was stressed out before I got here. But the pressure was gone before the race,” said Reed, champion of the 2016 Ironman Australia held early this year. “I just tried to do my best and have fun.”

Reed pulled away after the second transition, leaving behind fellow Aussie and five-time Ironman world champion Craig Alexander, who checked in second (3:55:01). Sam Betten, another Australian, crossed the line at third, 5:29 off Reed.

The 30-year-old from Byron Bay, New South Wales grieved for his best friend Tim Van Berkel, who missed the race after crashing his bike on a leisurely ride on Saturday, but at the same time felt ecstatic due to the cheers of the roadside fans.

“Their support just magnified every time I come back. There’s no other race in the world with this kind of atmosphere,” said Reed. “I respond well to the crowd and the friendly cheers, thank you.”

Van Berkel engaged Reed in a tight race last year but had to forgo this one after suffering scratches and contusions all over his face and arms.

Vodickova wound up second in 4:18:20 and Sarah Crowley finished third, more than five minutes after Steffen had arrived.

In the Filipino elite race, August Benedicto and Monica Torres retained their titles over a tough field that benefitted from the mostly cloudy atmosphere throughout the route. The sun briefly showed up on the run segment, but the seaside breeze somehow took the heat and humidity away.

Benedicto celebrated his birthday by again capturing the male elite division in 4:26:46 and Torres sealed the female elite plum in 4:45:54.

Paul Jumamil placed second, 1:03 behind Benedicto, and John Leerams Chicano, who led at the start of the bike stretch, finished third, 1:18 back. Inquirer news editor Artemio Engracia Jr. finished the race in 8:09:27.

“Last year, it was crazy out there because of the fans. Today, it was mad,” said Steffen. “I wouldn’t be the champion if not for you guys,” she added addressing the crowd.

A total of 50 slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championships were offered in the race that attracted close to 3,000 participants from 43 countries and supported by Philippine Airlines, Summit Water, 2Go Express, Asics, Gatorade, Prudential Guarantee, Oakley and Timex.

Celebrities Matteo Guidecelli, Xander Angeles, Ivan Carapiet, Kim Atienza, Paul Jake Castillo, Gilbert Remulla, Dyan Castillejo competed in the elite race while Dingdong Dantes (swim), Gretchen Fullido (swim), Bubbles Paraiso (run), Sam YG (swim) and Anthony Pangilinan (bike) participated in the relay event.