Foreign bets spice up Sun Life 5150 chase

ATLEAST 30 foreign triathletes, keen on doing short distance but challenging races on a world-class course, gear up for spirited duels with the local bets in various age categories when the Sun Life 5150 Triathlon returns to Bohol on July 10.

Veteran campaigners Michael Davies of the United Kingdom, Michael Rudolf of Germany, French Romain Thibert, and Aussie-based Briton Darren Thomas, who has vied in a series of ultra-adventure races, head the merry mix of athletes clashing in the 1.5 km-swim, 40 km-bike and 10 km run held under an Olympic-style setup.

The Bellevue Resort on Panglao Island, which has staged IRONMAN events since 2014, is all set for another successful hosting after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic with the race routes all spruced up for the event sponsored by Sun Life.

Davies, Rudolf, and Thomas banner the men’s 50-54 age division while Thibert and Singapore’s Haythem El-Ansary lead the 40-44 category of the event which also features clashes in 25-29 age group, headed by Vietnam’s Dinh Anh Duc, in 30-34 led by India’s Pranav Haldar, in 35-39 spearheaded by Norway’s Steinar Aasheim, Malaysia’s Chitchen Then and Francesco Berre of Italy, and in 45-49 headed by American Javon Ross.

Meanwhile, Korean Jinho Shin and Dutch Jelle Beekma lead the 55-59 cast while Swiss Roman Menz and Briton Nick Cudmore head the 60-64 and 65-69 divisions, respectively, of the event organized by the IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. and backed by venue host The Bellevue Resort, the Province of Bohol, the Municipality of Panglao, Finis, the official swim cap partner, Rudy Project, Sante, Active, the official registration partner.

Also on tap are the men’s and women’s relay competitions and the Sunrise Sprint race.

For details, visit www.ironman.com/5150-bohol with social media accounts at Sun Life 5150 Bohol (facebook) and 5150bohol (Instagram). For the Sunrise Sprint, log on to www.goforgold.sunrisesprint.com.

But the Filipino bets, including those bracing for bigger triathlon races, are also all primed up for the event, supported by media partners Manila Bulletin, Crosstrain.PH, MBody.PH and Tempo, and official hotels Amorita and Bluewater. They include Triathlon Bohol’s Rey Estrosos (25-29), Raymond Uy (35-39) and Val Uy (40-44), Team Pastor’s Remus Velano and Rider Omega’s Justice Sousa (20-24), Triad’s Seth Sabuga (35-39), Trion’s Irwin Ramas (40-44) and Who Tribe’s Jean-Michel Pedroso (45-49), among others.