WHILE Penong’s 5150 Davao will be Tagum City’s first crack at endurance racing hosting, the race course which conforms to international standards guarantees a fast, exciting race when it is held on Sept. 4 in Davao del Norte.
Bohol’s Jonathan Pagaura and Team Next Step Tri spearhead Bea Quiambao will set out as the triathletes to beat in their respective sides in the Olympic distance 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run race at The Wrec, Hijo Resort Davao given their recent performances.
Pagaura is out to top the 2:07:40 clocking posted by absentee Satar Salem of Lanao del Norte in the Sun Life 5150 Bohol where he placed second last July while Quiambao seeks to improve on her time of 2:27:13 in pursuit of back-to-back 5150 crowns.
But the fancied bets will be in for a tough, demanding challenge with the rest of the 445 bidders of various skills and talents all primed in both the age-group categories and the overall championship.
“We are all excited and we have prepared an excellent racecourse and a safe race for everyone,” said Neville Manaois, race director of the event organized by The Ironman Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. and backed by Lightwater, Finis, and Rudy Project Sante (Barley).
The opening swim leg will be a counter-clockwise route starting at the Banana Beach at Hijo Resorts, featuring a 270-meter stretch with participants turning left to the 630-meter part of the course before heading to the final turn for the last 600 meters. The cutoff is one hour.
