MACTAN, Cebu. — For Australia’s Josh Ferris and New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson, winning the Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu presented by Megaworld – through overcast skies, rain and sun – was a triumph in itself at Mactan Newtown here Sunday.
But winning it to the deafening cheers of schoolchildren and locals, whose energy pushed them to the limit and carried them to the finish line, was something else.
“I was screaming along without knowing,” said Ferris, who captured the men’s professional crown in 03:49:10 over the 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run, besting New Zealand’s Mike Phillips, who timed 03:52:40. “My ears were about to burst, they were so loud. All the school kids out there, all the people were cheering, and it was awesome.”
Ferris emerged from the water with a strong swim split of 21:37, maintained his momentum on the bike with a 2:02:15 ride, and held steady in the run, clocking 1:20:32 to seal the victory. His time was just three minutes short of the 3:46:44 record set by Mexican athlete Mauricio Méndez in 2018, also in Lapu-Lapu.
Phillips, who started with a relatively slow swim time of 23:13, failed to close the gap during the bike leg, settling for 2:04:54. Despite posting the fastest run split of the day at 1:19:45, he fell short of catching Ferris.
New Zealand’s Sam Osborne, last year’s runner-up to Henri Schoeman of South Africa, finished third in 4:04:05 with splits of 22:38 (swim), 2:08:59 (bike), and 1:27:27 (run).
The race was not just another grueling triathlon – it was a festival of heart, heat and soul. Despite the tropical challenge of Mactan’s relentless sun and a sudden downpour that slicked the roads mid-race, thousands of cheering locals, many of them wide-eyed schoolchildren, transformed the event into something far more memorable for the pros than just a win.
Ferris pushed through the final grueling kilometers of the run with grit and a whole lot of crowd-powered adrenaline. “They were probably the reason I held on in those last 3 kilometers. It wasn’t going pretty. But they just kept me going.”
Watkinson echoed the sentiment as the veteran campaigner returned to Cebu to win the women’s premier division of the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and backed by Mactan Newtown, in dominant fashion – eight years after first claiming the same crown in 2017.
She clocked a total time of 4:14:22, with individual leg splits of 26:24 for the swim, 2:14:40 for the bike, and 1:28:17 for the run.
“It’s actually quite a unique atmosphere,” said Watkinson. “You can feel the visual energy out there. The kids had so much enthusiasm. It’s different here – it’s not just racing, it’s racing with emotion.”
Australian athlete Sophie Malowiecki led after the swim with a strong 24:13, but struggled on the bike, posting a 2:27:55, before finishing with the fastest run split of the day at 1:27:42, for a total time of 4:24:42. Kiwi Samantha Kingsford secured third place, finishing in 4:27:45 with splits of 25:43 (swim), 2:24:01 (bike), and 1:32:33 (run).
Watkinson’s strategy was textbook: take control in the bike leg, conserve just enough for the run, and endure the heat. But it was the support along the route that turned the race into something special.
“You know it’s going to be a challenge, but it’s a challenge for everyone,” she said. “The heat was brutal, yes, but I just focused on staying cool and enjoying the experience. That atmosphere – the energy of the crowd – definitely helped.”
The course tested even the best. But the soul of the event came from the people of Lapu-Lapu.
Young students lined up along the route, waving flags, holding handmade signs, and cheering for athletes whose names they may never know – but whose feats they’ll never forget.
“It’s something I’ll carry with me,” said Ferris. “It’s not just about winning. It’s about being part of something bigger. This was special.”
The race was not without its hitches. A minor crash on the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway during the bike leg created a tense moment. The iconic bridge, a scenic highlight of the route, turned slippery following a brief rain that surprised both organizers and athletes.
Several local and international competitors were involved in the crash, temporarily marring the otherwise smooth execution of the event. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported, and most athletes were able to continue the race.
Race organizers responded quickly, and medical personnel were on the scene within moments. The incident highlighted the unpredictability of outdoor competition – and the resilience of those who take part in it.
Watkinson, a veteran of the sport, remains non-committal about returning next year. “It’s a whole year away,” she said. “I’d love to say yes, but we’ll take it race by race.”
She’s off to Uzbekistan next – another test, another finish line. But it’s safe to say that Lapu-Lapu left its mark.
