German triathlete Marcus Rolli, who took an early lead on Sunday's Alveo Ironman in Davao City, holds on to win in the long-distance triathlon races in three hours and 49 minutes.
DAVAO CITY — German triathlete Marcus Rolli ruled Sunday’s Alveo Ironman 70.3 under the male pros’ category.
Rolli took the early lead and finished the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-km bike and the 21-km run in three hours, 49 minutes and 29 seconds.
Australian Craig Alexander, a five-time world champion, clinched the second place in 3:52:21; Australian triathlete Tim Van Berkel placed third; Tim Reed came in fourth; and, Sam Betten in fifth place in the male pros’ category.
Leading the female pros category, Radka Kahlefeldt of the Czech Republic finished in four hours, 16 minutes and 52 seconds followed by Caroline Steffen in second place; Kirralee Seidel in third; Dimity Lee Duke in fourth; and, Lisa Tyack in fifth place.
Mexican triathlete and 2018 Ironman champion Mauricio Mendez failed to finish the race after his bike broke down in Tagum city.
Mendez was the 2016 Xterra world champ.
Sunday’s race kicked off at 6 a.m. with the 1.9-kilometer swim course at the Azuela Cove followed by a 90-kilometer bike from Azuela in Davao City to Robinsons in Tagum City and a 21-kilometer run in Davao City.
Actors Piolo Pascual, Zoren Legaspi and broadcast journalist Kim Atienza were among the celebrities who participated in the Ironman race.
This year’s Alveo Ironman drew over 2,000 participants including athletes from 38 countries.
Ironman 70.3 is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corp. (WTC).
The "70.3" refers to the total distance in miles (113 km.) covered in the race — including the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike race, and the 13.1-mile run. Prior to the launch of the 70.3 series in 2005, the WTC races were then known as Half Ironman. (PNA)
