Ironman goes Wild

Rudei Wild celebrates as he wins the 2017 Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay male pro category. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson

Having kept pace with the favorites in the early going, Swiss Ruedi Wild felt that the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 men’s crown was his for the taking Sunday morning in Subic Bay.

The 34-year-old two-time Olympian’s hunch proved right as he bested Australians Craig Alexander, the defending champion, and reigning world champion Tim Reed in the decisive 21-kilometer run to claim his biggest victory thus far.

Czech Radka Kahlefeldt duplicated Wild’s feat as she unleashed a strong finishing kick to claim the women’s crown.

Competing in the Philippines for the first time, Wild poured it all in the last 10 kilometers to clock 1:14:08 in the run segment and post an overall time of 3:48:24 in the event that also featured the 1.9K swim and 90K bike races.

Alexander settled for second in 3:48:57, besting Reed (3:50:17) in the event supported by Century Tuna, Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board.

Kahlefeldt forged a similar conquest in the distaff side with a winning 4:22:13, an impressive three-minute and 43 seconds ahead of 2016 queen Caroline Steffen of Switzerland. Dimity Lee-Duke was a distant third at 4:41:57.

August Benedicto and Jenny Guerrero shared the spotlight with the world-class bets when they emerged champions in the men’s Asian Elite and Filipina Elite, respectively.

Benedicto stamped his class with a time of 4:25:42 while Guerrero flaunted superb form with a 5:14:23 effort.

Trailing the lead pack after the swim and bike stages, Wild slowly picked up speed and caught up with pacesetting compatriot Sven Riederer at the 11K mark.

Revving up some more, Wild surged ahead going to the last four kilometers, building a 10-second gap against Reed and Alexander.

“Those guys were starting really fast. But I knew it wasn’t about the first two kilometers; it’s about the second half of the run,” said Wild, a self-confessed slow starter. —ROY LUARCA