Two crowns up for grabs in Subic

With a full Ironman roster of more than 500 swelling by the day, the Century Tuna races in Subic Bay next week loom to be a triathlon event like no other as the race course has been improved to provide for the best racing experience possible.

The 3.8-kilometer (km) swim, 180-km bike and 42-km run full Ironman race will undoubtedly be the centerpiece event as a crack field of pros has so far signed up, even as the 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run 70.3 side of the event spices up the day with close to 200 entries so far signed up.

“We have retained much of the race course from last year, but we also made some improvements in managing the race to provide the triathletes an even better racing experience,” said race director Neville Manaois.

Temperatures are forecast to soar during race day, making it even more difficult especially for the full Ironman participants that will compete in 12 divisions in the men’s and ladies’ brackets.

The Philippines’ Ines Santiago will be shooting to win the event for the second straight year after dominating it in wire-to-wire style the last time out.

A relay race is also up in the 70.3 side of the event.