Australian Dimity Lee-Duke, Manami Iijima of Guam and Hong Kong’s Leanne Szeto set out for a grueling test of endurance as they dispute the women’s elite pro crown in the Black Arrow Express 5150 in Subic Bay on Sunday.
Duke ended two years of frustrations in 5150 (1.5km swim-40km bike-10km run) races in the country’s triathlon capital with a come-from-behind victory over Laura Wood last year.
Iijima finished ahead of Duke in the Cebu 70.3 in August and placed third in the Lixil Ironman in Japan in June.
Szeto is an Asian Games veteran and a former mainstay of Hong Kong’s national team.
But Duke vowed to go all out to dominate the Olympic distance series, particularly in the bike and run stages.
Compatriot Sam Betten is the favorite in the men’s side.