Historic Ironman race in PH is underway; 4 Filipinos in top 10 early

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The first full distance Ironman race in the Philippines is underway.

As of posting time, Freddy Lampret of Austria is leading the way after 92 kilometers in the bike in the top pro men.

Nicholas Baldwin of Seychelles is in second followed by Simon Cochrane of New Zealand.

Cochrane got the early head start in the race but Lampret gained steam after the 62 kilometer mark to take pole position.

Four Filipinos took the sixth to ninth places early with Benjamin Rana in sixth, Jonard Saim in seventh, August Benedicto in eighth and Arland Macasieb in ninth.

A pair of Australians are pacing the pro women field with Liz Blatchford the frontrunner followed by Dimity Lee Duke.

Rounding out the top five in the pro men are Cameron Brown of New Zealand and Eneko Elosegui of Spain.