SEVEN from among close to a thousand participants set out for strong finishes in the Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa reeling off Sunday in Palawan.
Mervin Santiago and Aiken Ting expect to crowd the favorites in the overall individual competitions and in their age group (30 to 34) of the punishing 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run race over a top-notch course.
Both are raring to flash the form honed by their stint in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, where Santiago emerged as the best-placed Filipino.
Yoejan Prudente, on the other hand, leads the 18 to 24 group and also eyes a top podium finish in the overall race together with John Nino Monte (25-29), who both competed in the IM 70.3 St. George in Utah also last month along with female triathletes Alessandra Castañeda.
The other athletes to watch are Mary Jane Baluyot (35-39), Nylah Bautista (45-49) and Celma Hitalia (55-59).
Castañeda was the first Filipina to cross the finish line at St. George.
But they will be as much tested as the rest of the 898-triathlete international field, including bets from 25 countries, are all set to grind it out in both the individual and age group competitions.
A total of 315 more are ready to mix it up in the men’s and women’s and mixed relays, which drew 59 teams composed of 177 participants.
The blue-ribbon event, organized by the Ironman Group/Sunrise Events Inc., also marks the first time that national team members Fer Casares, a gold medalist in triathlon’ mixed relay in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, and Bea Quiambao, a two-time winner of 5150 races in Bohol and Subic this year, will vie in an IM 70.3 setting.
Also featured is Bamboo LODI Rafie Liego, who will compete in the 18-24 age group, while Hanoi SEAG medalists Raven Alcoseba and Andrew Remolino, along with Marc Lago, will banner the Go for Gold squad in mixed relay competition, also tipped to go down-to-the-wire.
First-time host Puerto Princess has guaranteed not only a memorable racing experience for both local and foreign participants but also a “race-cation” of sorts with the City in the Forest offering scenic locations, including a number of world-class natural attractions.
Foremost is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park or the Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds a place in the new seven wonders of nature.
Even before its maiden hosting is completed, Puerto Princesa is already looking forward to staging the IM 70.3 next year that will also mark the return of some of the world’s leading and rising pros.
For details, visit www.ironman.com/im703-puerto-princesa, puertoprincesa70.3@ironman.com, or www.ironman.com for brand and global event series.