Ang Pahayagan

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The IRONMAN Group is gearing up for an unprecedented turnout for the fourth staging of the Century Tuna IRONMAN® Philippines and the 11th for the IRONMAN® 70.3 Subic Bay on Sunday, June 9, 2024, with the premier endurance races expected to draw more than a thousand athletes to take on the challenge.

Subic Bay is a popular destination for tourism and leisure activities in the Freeport zone – offering hotels, resorts, golf courses, water sports, and other recreational facilities. With the support of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), such international events are made possible by the modern infrastructure that serves as a playground for athletes.

Chairman Eduardo Aliño has expressed continuing support to the longstanding partnership of the IRONMAN Group and the SBMA which started in 2013 with the Century Tuna 5150 Subic Bay.

On Sunday, Subic Bay is set to challenge the athletes’ endurance and mental toughness in both IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events, alongside IRONKIDS Swim-Bike-Run and Century Tuna Superbods Underpants Run that is geared towards friends and families, making the race weekend enjoyable for all.

Princess Galura, Regional Director of the IRONMAN Group in the Philippines, acknowledged Subic Bay as the country’s triathlon capital, citing its long history of hosting various triathlon events, including 5150s, sprints and full-distance IRONMAN races.

Greg Banzon, Executive Vice President and COO of Century Pacific emphasized the pivotal role Century Tuna has played in the Philippine triathlon scene, saying the company has supported events from small sprint races to the prestigious IRONMAN Philippines for over a decade. He also highlighted the rise of Filipino athletes, such as SEA Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas, as a testament to the company’s commitment to youth development in triathlon. Through their support, Century Tuna has fostered a generation of athletes excelling in the sport.

Carlo Endaya, Vice President and General Manager for the Domestic Tuna Business of Century Pacific, also underscored the broader impact of their support for triathlon events, stressing these promote health and fitness within the community, making triathlon accessible to a wider audience. He added that the company’s involvement goes beyond the elite athletes, promoting a culture of health and fitness that reaches people of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging more individuals to embrace the sport and its benefits.

The competitive field of the race opens for a formidable local or a possible first-timer win this year, as 54 countries are represented – the largest number in course history. Leading the diverse and determined lineup in the IRONMAN race are Czech Petr Lukosz and United Arab Emirates’ Svetlana Kovaleva.

Leading the huge Philippine contingent are athletes Jemuel Clemente, Daniel Valdez, Ramon Abeleda, Lexter Ansaldo, Rolando Alquero, Edgar Puruganan, Sarah Marie Eraña Leaño, Maryfel Aumentado, and Anne Nuñez. Young talents Enrico Pisuena, Carlos Dungao, and Alab Adviento are also in the mix.

With the robust support from local officials and the community, this year’s event promises to be a milestone in the history of IRONMAN races in the Philippines, fostering a strong sense of community and promoting a healthier lifestyle for all participants. Nine triathlon teams have stepped forward to volunteer and set up refreshment tents available for all participants on the run course in addition to the standard aid stations of the race. This initiative aims to encourage camaraderie and a sense of community and showcases Filipino hospitality at the Subic Bay race.

Teams who have volunteered for the task are Century TriHard, Lanao del Norte (SND Barracuda), Next Step Tri, Hanii Tri Crew Team, TriMac, Gas Coaching, Strive for Fitness (SFF), Fit PH, and Isabela Tri, Nutrition Depot & Baguio Benguet Tri.

Slots for the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championships in Nice, France and Kona,Hawaii and the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupõ, New Zealand are significant motivation for all the age-group athletes as the race in Subic Bay serves as a qualifier for the championship events.

There will be 100 age-group slots up for grabs – For the IRONMAN race, 15 slots are allocated for the Nice race, and 25 allocated for the Kona race; while for the IRONMAN 70.3, 45 slots are allocated for age groupers plus 15 additional slots have been added for Women For Tri, an IRONMAN initiative to encourage participation of women in the sport. (PR)

📸 SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Alino welcomes officials of Century Tuna Ironman  led by Century Pacific’s Executive Vice-president and COO Greg Banzon and Sunrise Events General Manager Princess Galura during a press conference held Friday, June 7 at Subic Bay Exhibition & Convention Center  in Subic Bay Freeport zone. (Ang Pahayagan photo / JUN DUMAGUING)