Subic hosts country’s first full ironman

Thirty berths in the Ironman World Championship will be up for grabs when the country stages the first full Ironman race on June 3 in Subic.

The Century Tuna-backed event marks the first time that the Philippines will hold a qualifier for the world meet slated this October in Kona, Hawaii.

A total purse of $15,000 is at stake in the 3.8-kilometer swim, 180K bike and 42K run contest that has lured 1,278 bets from 47 countries. Each participant will have 17 hours to finish the entire course.

The Philippines is fielding 833 entries in the centerpiece event, while also drawing 78 triathletes each from China and Japan, 54 from the US, 47 from Singapore and 29 from Australia.