LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 10 (PIA) – The 2nd Mt. Mayon Triathlon held yesterday kicked off this year’s Ibalong Festival wherein 300 local and international athletes took the challenge of going through 1.5 km sea water swim, 40 km rustic bike ride and 10 kilometer uphill run.
Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said the city government made use of the Ibalong Festival as tool for promoting the city not only locally but internationally as well that is why for this year the focus has been on the quality of our events such as the Mayon Triathlon.
"We want to give the best experience we could for our athletes as we aim to be one of the best races in the country to showcase Legazpi to the world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Elite category for this year’s triathlon was limited to 300 participants to ensure quality as it aims to be one of the best races in the country to showcase and promote the city to the world.
The participants for the Elite category include champions from tough triathlons and sports competitions held in and out of the country. The other categories are Age Group for male and female aged 19 under and 50 above and Team Relay composed of three players.
For the elite male category, Mitch Robins notched the top spot clocking in at 1:59:10 followed by Benjamin Raña at 2:06:25 and Mark Anthony Hosana at 2:09:37.
Raña from Camarines Sur was champion in last year’s Mayon Triathlon followed by Hosana from Naga City as the second placer. Robins from Australia has been the 2015 champion in the Ironman 70.3 in Japan and 2nd place in the same category held in Subic Bay.
The winners for the elite female category are also the top finishers in this year’s Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cebu City which was considered among the toughest races held in the country due to the strong current and searing heat.
Also in the same order, Monica Torres was the fastest clocking in at 2:19:51 with Maria Hodges following at 2:22:19 and LC Langit at 2:35:05.
Torres was able to defend her spot as the defending champion last year while Hodges leveled up from being 3rd placer. Langit has competed in Asian Games and Asian Beach Games, currently holds the highest top finish by any Filipino triathlete and a two-time Asian Aquathlon champion.
Torres was hailed as the fastest Filipina in the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines since its inauguration in 2009 until this year. She is likewise the first Philippine triathlete to win overall female titles in international triathlons.
Ibalong Festival 2015 will formally open on August 20 with a Eucharistic celebration at St. Gregory the Great Cathedral along with the commemoration of Ibalong heroes, opening of the Ibalong Festival Bazaar at Legazpi Boulevard and Ibalong Carnival Mardi Gras parade from Legazpi City Hall to the city’s boulevard.
Other activities lined up this year include the 3rd Ibalong National Women’s Beach Volleyball Competition, 1st National Cross Country Mountain Bike Race, national dragon boat race, pigeon race and football clinic with James and Phil Younghusband.
The annual Mutya ng Ibalong coronation night will be on August 28 at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation and the street presentation will be on August 29 from Penaranda Park to Legazpi Port District.(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2571439340261/mayon-triathlon-year-2-kicks-off-ibalong-festival-2015#sthash.lrHISMNQ.dpuf
Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said the city government made use of the Ibalong Festival as tool for promoting the city not only locally but internationally as well that is why for this year the focus has been on the quality of our events such as the Mayon Triathlon.
"We want to give the best experience we could for our athletes as we aim to be one of the best races in the country to showcase Legazpi to the world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Elite category for this year’s triathlon was limited to 300 participants to ensure quality as it aims to be one of the best races in the country to showcase and promote the city to the world.
The participants for the Elite category include champions from tough triathlons and sports competitions held in and out of the country. The other categories are Age Group for male and female aged 19 under and 50 above and Team Relay composed of three players.
For the elite male category, Mitch Robins notched the top spot clocking in at 1:59:10 followed by Benjamin Raña at 2:06:25 and Mark Anthony Hosana at 2:09:37.
Raña from Camarines Sur was champion in last year’s Mayon Triathlon followed by Hosana from Naga City as the second placer. Robins from Australia has been the 2015 champion in the Ironman 70.3 in Japan and 2nd place in the same category held in Subic Bay.
The winners for the elite female category are also the top finishers in this year’s Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cebu City which was considered among the toughest races held in the country due to the strong current and searing heat.
Also in the same order, Monica Torres was the fastest clocking in at 2:19:51 with Maria Hodges following at 2:22:19 and LC Langit at 2:35:05.
Torres was able to defend her spot as the defending champion last year while Hodges leveled up from being 3rd placer. Langit has competed in Asian Games and Asian Beach Games, currently holds the highest top finish by any Filipino triathlete and a two-time Asian Aquathlon champion.
Torres was hailed as the fastest Filipina in the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines since its inauguration in 2009 until this year. She is likewise the first Philippine triathlete to win overall female titles in international triathlons.
Ibalong Festival 2015 will formally open on August 20 with a Eucharistic celebration at St. Gregory the Great Cathedral along with the commemoration of Ibalong heroes, opening of the Ibalong Festival Bazaar at Legazpi Boulevard and Ibalong Carnival Mardi Gras parade from Legazpi City Hall to the city’s boulevard.
Other activities lined up this year include the 3rd Ibalong National Women’s Beach Volleyball Competition, 1st National Cross Country Mountain Bike Race, national dragon boat race, pigeon race and football clinic with James and Phil Younghusband.
The annual Mutya ng Ibalong coronation night will be on August 28 at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation and the street presentation will be on August 29 from Penaranda Park to Legazpi Port District.(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2571439340261/mayon-triathlon-year-2-kicks-off-ibalong-festival-2015#sthash.lrHISMNQ.dpuf
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