Sun Life 5150 Triathlon unfolds in Bohol

BOHOL, Philippines — The Sun Life 5150 Triathlon unfolds here today with the closing run stage seen to be decisive in the battle for the overall championship.

With last year’s top seven finishers, including winner Satar Salem, runner-up Jonathan Pagaura and third placer Jailani Lamama, back in the hunt, the same gripping windup looms in the 1.5 km-swim, 40 km-bike and 10 km run race at the Bellevue Resort beachfront on Panglao Island here.

Salem, the team TRI SND Barracuda spearhead, unleashed a strong finishing kick to snare the overall championship in 2:07:40 last year, which the 27-year-old Lanao del Norte ace hopes to improve with a better showing in the swim and bike stages.

But Pagaura, from Core Pacific Money Exchange, is likewise primed for another stab at the coveted plum, along with Salem’s teammate Lamama, and Jorry Ycong, Mohammad Hanin Maruhom, Julian Teves and Kristiane Lim.

Last year’s Penong’s 5150 winner Joshua Ramos also expects to crowd Salem and company for top honors, both in the age-group category (20-24) and the overall championship, in the event organized by The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events Inc.

Celebrities Piolo Pascual and Matteo Guidicelli are also competing in the event sponsored by Sun Life Philippines for the third time.