DAVAO CITY–“Ironman 2018 was near perfect.”
This was the assessment of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to the just concluded Alveo Ironman 70.3 hosted by the city Sunday where hundreds of triathletes and guests gathered for the world triathlon competition.
“My gratitude to everyone. Thank you to all the Dabawenyos who all came together to put on a great event,” Mayor Duterte-Carpio said in a press statement released Monday evening.
Duterte-Carpio underscored the support and cooperation between Davao City and the neighboring cities of Tagum, Panabo, Samal Island, and the town of Carmen, in Davao del Norte.
“Davao is strong because of the Dabawenyos’ proud and resilient spirit,” she said.
The mayor highlighted the zero serious injuries and accidents during the event where about 1,800 triathletes participated in 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.
The mayor said the city government and the Ironman organizers also received positive feedback from the participants, even as she recognized the role of the private sector in the success of the event.
Almost 2,000 athletes from the different parts of the world joined the first Alveo Ironman 70.3 in the city, where Mauricio Mendez from Mexico won the championship in the professional category for men.
Radka Kahlefeldt from the Czech Republic, who gave birth 10 weeks ago, won the professional female category. The victories of Mendez and Kahlefeldt ended the dominance of the Australians in the Ironman Philippines event.
Sunrise event General Manager Princess Galura said the success of the Alveo Ironman 70.3 this year is a big challenge for the city to further improve the activity in the next two years.
Davao City will keep the hosting of Ironman 70.3 next year and 2020, he added. (Lilian C. Mellejor and Funny Pearl Gajunera/PNA)
