Duke looms as early favorite in Davao 70.3 revival     

Dimity-Lee Duke of Australia has signed up for the Ironman’s return to Davao next month and this early, stands out as the woman to beat in the 70.3 pro division at posh Azuela Cove where a handsome $30,000 await the champion of the men’s and women’s divisions.

A dominant campaigner in Philippine 51-50 races before the pandemic, Duke was third when the first Davao race was staged in 2018, which the Czech Republic’s Radka Kahlefeldt ruled via an 11-minute romp over Naomi Washizu of Japan.

Training practically all-year round in Phuket in Thailand, the 39-year-old Duke will be labeled as one of the top favorites in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run race no matter who else signs up before the deadline owing to her experience.

Registration is ongoing and inquiries can be coursed through: ironman.com/im703-davao-philippines-athletes.

Spicing up the IM 70.3 Davao is the Girls’ Run on March 24 and the IronKids on March 25.

Also in the early women’s pro roster are compatriots Sarah Crowley and Lottie Lucas of United Arab Emirates. Crowley, who turned 40 last Feb. 4, topped the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships and finished third in the Ironman World Championship, both in 2017.