Record field for Alaska IronKids

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from setting a new mark for the most number of entries in the Ironman 70.3 Philippines, Cebu has also established the record for biggest number of participants in the kiddie triathlon event dubbed IronKids.

So far, there are 120 entries for the IronKids set August 4 within the vicinity of Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

The number of entries in the said event surpasses Camsur’s 95 entries last year.

For those who have not yet registered, they can still enlist for the event by logging in to www.ironkidsphil.com.

This is open to triathletes aged 6 to 14 years old.

Age categories to be contested are 6-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 years old.

Entries in the 6-8 class will cover a 100-meter swim, 3-km bike and 1-kilometer run.

For the 9-10 class it will be a 200-m swim, 6-km bike and 1.5 km run.

For 11-12, the swim leg will be for a distance of 300 meters, the bike 10 kilometers, and the run is for 2 kilometers.

It will be a 400-m swim, 12-km bike, and a 3-km run for the 13 to 14 years old age group.

Among the notables that have registered are early race favorites Tara Borlain and Eric Almendral, last year’s winners in the 6-8 class, Sophia Marie Vizcarra and Lance Vincent Plaza, the top performers of the 11-12 division, and Magali Echauz and Justine Kyle Mapalo the winners of the 13-14 category.  

Prior to the August 4 event, there will be an IronKids Aquathlon at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Sunday.

This year’s IronKids series of events kicked off with two back-to-back running events followed by an aquathlon last June while the last event will be another triathlon competition at Pico de Loro on October 27.

Since its inception in 2010, Alaska IronKids has become a symbol for active and healthy lifestyle among kids.

The sponsors of Alaska IronKids Triathlon are Alaska Milk Corporation as the title sponsor, McDonalds, Time Studio, Powerade, Prudential Guarantee, Private Iris, and Viva Mineral Water.

On the other hand, Cebu’s first hosting of the Ironman Philippines has attracted 1,700 triathletes including 18 pros.

Around 400 others are still in the wait list, but the organizing Sunrise Events Incorporated said no one has backed out in the event yet, that makes there chances negative unless they are a high profile celebrity like former F-1 World Champion and current Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Jenson Button.

Button decided to join the event late already, but organizers can’t say no to someone like him.

Button will be joining along with his girlfriend, model Jessica Michibata.

Button is using triathlon as a “cross-training” for Formula One and had proven to be fast, not only on the F-1 tracks, but also in the swim-bike-run event with podium finishes in some triathlon events abroad. - THE FREEMAN