'Ironman' on tomorrow

PILI, Camarines Sur, Philippines – The Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines set tomorrow at the Camsur Water Complex here will not just be bigger and better, it will also be safer.

A total of 841 participants including the elite men and women of world and local triathlon were all accounted for yesterday, ensuring a high-powered competition that starts and ends at the CWC.

The turnout was way bigger than last year since this edition, the second of the three-year hosting, attracted 604 individual and 79 relay teams, a 44-percent increase since it drew 409 individuals and 58 teams competing in relays.

The event has drawn 172 foreign participants from 34 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Slovakia, Belgium and Norway, or 11 more foreign countries from last year.

Terrenzo Bozzone of New Zealand is back to defend the title he won last year against a tough field that included countryman and eventual third placer Cameron Brown, who is also returning for the prestigious race, which covers 1.2 miles of swim, 56 miles of bike and 13.1 miles of run, this time around.

Sunrise Events, Inc. president and Alaska Milk CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu said they would recreate the unforgettable experience and world-class inaugural race last year.

“We’re 50 percent bigger than we were last year and a larger pro field,” said Uytengsu, whose Alaska Milk team recently defeated San Miguel to nail its 13th PBA championship, in yesterday’s press conference at the CWC.

“Last year when we held the relays we did it because we wanted to encourage people to get their feet wet in the sport of triathlon.

“I’m sure we have a lot of people who converted from the relay into the individual event this year so it’s a big push for the relay side and this year we got so many participants that this year the only restriction is the number of rooms in the area,” he added.

And to prevent the untoward incident that happened last year that saw the accidental death of one of the participants, organizers are taking extra precautions.

“We’ve added some safety measures this year,” said host, Camarines Sur Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte.

The local government has added some divers – a total of eight – in the lake area where the swim competition will be held as well as some lifeguards at the shore.

“In the swimming area we’re putting in divers in the lake, a lifeguard for every 200 meters and some signages for safety because, unfortunately, last year something happened,” said Villafuerte, who is closing the Maharlika highway from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. to give way to the once-a-year experience.

“In the running course we’re putting sprinkler systems every 5km for people complaining about the heat,” he added.

The foreign field includes UK’s Paul Amey, Australia’s Justin Cole, Rachel Paxton and Leon Griffin, Hong Kong’s Erich Felbabel, the US’s Lance Watson and Michelle Jones and Canada’s Magali Tisseyre.

Nonoy Jopson, last year’s top Filipino finisher, is expected to lead the locals’ bid in this event, which has lured the best ironmen and women who will try to extend the limits of human endurance in three, back-breaking events.

Bozzone said he hopes he could prevail anew here.

“It’s going to be tough but for sure, we will give everyone a good show,” said Bozzone, perhaps one of the most popular foreign participants here with his rock star figure.

Aside from Cobra Energy Drink, Alaska, CWC and Villafuerte, Globe Telecoms, the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Century Tuna, Power Bar, David Salon, Dusit Thani Manila, Oakley, Timex, Purdential Guarantee, K-Swiss and Gatorade are sponsoring this event with The Philippine STAR, ABS-CBN Publishing and Multi-sports as media partners.

The champion will pocket $6,000 while the next two finishers will get home $4,000 and $2,000, respectively. The top Filipino placers get P50,000, P30,000 and P20,000.