Ironman to return despite tragedy

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the death of a participant, the Ironman 70.3 Philippines proved to be a big success, ensuring the staging of the endurance race at the Lago del Rey at the Camsur Water Sports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur in the next two years.

Gov. Lray Villafuerte of host Camarines Sur and Princess Galura of the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. said the inaugural race, which lured the world’s elite triathletes, drew praises from the competing field, including the foreign participants who have vowed to return and compete again next year.

New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone and Lisa Bentley of Canada topped their respective events with the former turning in a three-hour, 51-minute and 25-second clocking, beating Ironman titlist Chris McCormack of Australia by 53 seconds. Bentley, the 11-time Ironman winner, outclassed American Gina Kehr to pull off the dramatic win in 4:24.29 in the distaff side.

The Philippines has the rights to stage the Ironman 70.3 in the next two years as part of a three-year contract with the World Triathlon Corp., which owns the event’s rights.

“The Ironman 70.3 will remain in the country the next two years,” said Galura, Sunrise’s project director for the event.

Ironman 70.3 organizers are paying $500,000 a year to WTC for the staging of the event.

“It was a smashing success and the participants including the foreigners were happy about the race and vowed to return next year,” said Villafuerte.

“We can’t wait to see them again next year,” said Villafuerte, who is planning to hold a big international marathon event next year.

Tragedy, however, marred the first staging of the Ironman 70.3 as a relay team bet, Miguel Vasquez, 53, died in the swim leg of the event.

There had been no official statement on how Vasquez, a pre-need insurance executive who graduated salutatorian at the Ateneo Law School in 1986, drowned during the swim leg of the event although there were speculations he either suffered a heart attack or was accidentally kicked by another participant.

Galura said Vasquez’s remains has been transferred to Manila Sunday night.

Organizers said an investigation is now being conducted to determine the cause of Vasquez’s death.     – Joey Villar