World tilt slots at stake in Ironman 70.3 in Subic

Stakes just got higher in the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 in Subic Bay on Sunday as 30 berths in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship are now up for grabs.

A shot to race among the world’s best triathletes hang in the balance, with last year’s winners, Australian Craig Alexander and Swiss Caroline Steffen out to defend their respective titles.

The path to back-to-back titles, though, is going to be a rocky one as a stellar field which features some of the world’s leading international athletes and up-and-comers are doubly motivated to take the crown away from last year’s victors.

Inaugural champion Tim Reed is back with a vengeance, alongside Australians Sam Betten, Jason Hall, and Dan Wilson, South African Johan Stofberg, and Till Schramm of Germany to compete in the men’s pro division.

Radka Kahlefeldt, Dimity Lee Duke, Kate Bevilaqua, Sarah Lester, Imke Oelerich and Imogen Simmonds are also aching to top the women’s pro side.

The triathletes will go through a 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike, and 21-km run race, with a hefty $3,000 prize awaiting the winner.

The 30 best triathletes will qualify for the World Championship in September in Chatanooga, Tennessee, where they will race alongside Ironman finishers in Australia, Germany, South Africa, and Switzerland.

Almost a thousand entries will participate in the event, topping the 902-strong field in the inaugural run and the 823 roster last year.

The Ironman 70.3 race will be the crown jewel of the three-day event, which will feature the opening of the 2GO Bike Service and Expo on Friday, and the twinbill of the Alaska Ironkids and the Century Tuna Superbods: The Underpants Run following on Saturday morning.