Ironman 70.3 Phils in CamSur Anew this August

PILI, Camarines Sur - Over 500 elite multi-sport athletes from 30 countries around the world are eyeing reigning champion Terenzo Bozzone of New Zealand as still the man to beat in the upcoming Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines slated August 22, 2010 at the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) of the Provincial Capitol at barangay Cadlan here.

This year's Ironman 70.3 is the second edition of the Asian series of the Ironman championships brought to the Philippines for the first time last year principally through the efforts of the Provincial Government under Gov. LRay Villafuerte, Alaska Milk Corporation CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Jr. who is himself a triathlete, and Asia Brewery headed by vice president Hubert Tan.

Born, reared and trained in New Zealand which has a tropical climate very much like the Philippines, Bozzone is an accomplished multi-sport athlete and thrives well in hot weather, a distinct advantage over protagonists from cold countries just like he exhibited here last year. He has a kilometric string of championships, six of them won in the first five months of 2010.

Also registered to participate is Australian Pete Jacobs, a swimming ace who finished fourth in last year's Ironman 70.3 Philippines as well as top-notch Hawaiian Bree Wee who also bagged fourth of the women's professional division last year.

Other big names in the multi-sports registered are Kiwi now living in Austalia, Paul Amey with his cap of colorful duathlon and triathlon triumphs, Fredrick Croneborg of Sweden, another power swimmer who finished sixth in the Men's Pro category last year and Justin Cole from Australia, Philippine based Wayne Dearing and Erich Felbabel from France.

Rated women triathletes include Rachel Paxton of Australia and Magali Tisseyre of Canada.

Set on giving them a run for the money is the horde of 571 other triathletes including a large number of Filipino triathlon veterans as well as new converts who cropped up after the sensational race last year, aside from triathletes from United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Vietnam, Hongkong, Sweden, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Germany, Japan, France, Mexico, Peru, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, South Africa, Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Spain, Taiwan, Czech Republic and Singapore,

The local athletes are led by veterans of last year's race Nonoy Jopson, conceded the number one Filipino Ironman and Heracleo "Leo" Oracion, the first Filipino ever to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.

The Ironman 70.3 is a combination of three sports disciplines - 1.2 miles (almost 2 kilometers) of swimming, 56 miles (over 90 kilometers) of cycling 13.1 miles (over 21 kilometers) of running for a total distance of 70.3 miles of over 113 kilometers.

CamSur was first choice as venue for the first three franchise years mainly because of its ideal facilities, particularly the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) which has significantly contributed to the province's becoming the most visited destination in the country with a growing reputation as an international center for extreme sports. (GBClaveria/MMEC)