Justin Ghosh marked man in Regent Aguila Ironman

MANILA, Philippines — Multi-titled age-group campaigner Justin Ghosh takes a crack at the big boys of triathlon as he spearheads the roster of newbies vying in the second Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships on Aug. 11 in Mactan, Cebu.

Course familiarity won’t pose much of a problem for the 24-year-old Aussie, who shone during the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa 18-24 age bracket in 2014 and 2015, making him one of the bets to watch in the men’s pro category of the 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, 21 km run event presented by Philam Vitality and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc.

Out to steal the show from the likes of veterans Tim Reed, a former three-time world titlist from Down Under, and defending champion Mauricio Mendez from Mexico and Aussie veteran Sam Betten, are Lindsey Lawry, another emerging star from talent-rich Australia, and Blake Kappler.

The chase for the women’s pro tiara is also tipped to go down to the last burst in the closing part of the premier endurance race with Francesca Sanjana of Great Britain and Aussie Courtney Gilfillan setting out to upend last year’s winner Radka Kahlefeldt, and regular Phl campaigners Swiss Caroline Steffen and Dimity Lee Duke of Australia.

Completing the men’s cast are Bahrain’s Eric Watson, Czech Jakub Langhammer, Aussies Tim Van Berkel, Luke McKenzie and Mitch Robins and New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone while boosting the women’s pro roster are Lauren Wood and Amanda Wilson of Australia and Hungary’s Anna Eberhardt.