Tim Reed reigns anew, completes Cebu Ironman 70.3 three-peat

Tim Reed. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

LAPU-LAPU CITY — Solidifying his stronghold in Cebu, Tim Reed once again came out on top as he conquered the 2017 Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines on Sunday morning at Shangri-La Mactan here.

With a tough field out to dethrone him, the Aussie shrugged off the opposition and finished the grueling swim-bike-run course in 3:54:07.

Reed pulled away from the pack in the bike course, leaving them all in the dust as he established a 2:39 gap coming into the second transition. He would hold the cushion up until the end as he ran through the tape at the finish line.

Reed extended his dynasty here to three years, winning the 2015 tilt as well as last year’s Asia-Pacific Championship.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Mendez staged a huge rally in the end as he fought his way to a second place finish with his time of 3:56:46.

The Mexican stunner made up for the three-and-a-half minute differential between him and Ryan Fisher after the bike course and sprinted past the pack to end up as runner-up.

Fisher finished third with his time of 4:00:20, while closely behind him were Tim van Berkel at four (4:02:31) and Brent McMahon at five (4:05:24).

Rounding out the top 10 for the male elite category are Callum Millward at sixth (4:10:20), Brad Williams at seventh (4:19:55), Eric Watson at eighth (4:23:30), Jakub Langhammer at ninth (4:32:27), and Iain Alexandridis at 10th (4:35:12).

Amelia Watkinson claimed her first victory of the year as she topped the female elite category.

The Kiwi also won her field handily, finishing the race in 4:29:17, almost seven minutes away from her closest foe.

Jacqueline Thistleton was at distant second with her 4:29:17 clocking, followed by Kerry Morris at third (4:39:11), Kirra Seidel at fourth (4:39:26), and Anna Eberhardt at fifth (4:49:51).

Banjo Norte reigned supreme in the Asian male elite as he clocked in 4:35:51, while Leanne Szeto of Hong Kong was the lone finisher in the Asian female elite, completing the course in 5:16:01.

INQUIRER news editor Jun Engracia also participated in the Ironman 70.3 race, wrapping up the course in eight hours, 33 minutes, and 37 seconds.