Triathletes at the Cobra Ironman press conference Saturday in Lapu Lapu City. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With South Africa in mind, professional triathletes will go all out as 30 slots for the 2018 Ironman World Championship are up for grabs this Sunday at the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu.
Over 2,600 entries from a record 51 countries are going to partake in the grueling 70.3-kilometer race with the elite pros bannering the field as they stake their claim for the top $5,000 purse in the men’s and women’s divisions as well as a ticket to the world tilt in Mandela Bay, South Africa next year.
Aussies Tim Reed and Dimity-Lee Duke are the favorites to rule the elite pro divisions, but it won’t be a cakewalk with other world-class triathletes also motivated to rule the Cebu staging.
Tim Van Berkel and Sam Betten of Australia, Mauricio Mendez of Mexico, Brent McMahon of Canada, and Cameron Brown of New Zealand are also favored in the men’s category.
Also joining the fray are Braden Currie, Eddie Rawles and Callum Millward of New Zealand, David Mainwaring, Alexander Polizzi and Luke Bell of Australia, Brad Williams and Iain Alexandridis of USA, Jakub Langhammer of Czech Republic, Johan Stofberg of South Africa, Jonathan Ciavatella of Italy, and Eric Watson of Bahrain.
Meanwhile, the women’s division will also be a crowded one with Jacqueline Thisleton, Alise Selsmark, Kirra Seidel, Monica Juhart and Kerry Mulholland of Australia, Hungarian Anna Eberhardt, New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson and local bet Kim Kilgroe all in the race.
The Ironman race won’t be the lone spectacle for the weekend, with youth events peppering the event.
IronGirl kicks off the party on Friday, where female kids 12 years old and above will race in a 5-kilometer fun run.
Alaska IronKids follow on Saturday morning, before triathletes of all ages take center stage on Sunday in elite, age-group, and relay events.