SUBIC BAY – Under moody skies, the 10th milestone staging of the Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay delivered a masterwork in triathlon drama, crowning a veteran who refused to grow old and a rising superstar who doesn' know how to slow down.
August Benedicto, 42, pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the men's division in a stunning triumph by grit over youth while Bea Quiambao solidified her status as the undisputed queen of Philippine triathlon, weathering a heavy downpour to claim the women’s crown in thrilling fashion.
READ Quiambao, Reig headline elite field in 10th IRONMAN 70.3 Subic
Both athletes were honored with the prestigious Bagong Bayani Award, a fitting tribute to elite Filipino racers who continue to elevate the nation’s status on the international endurance stage.
While Quiambao’s victory felt like an inevitability given her current form, Benedicto’s triumph came as a shock. Facing a stacked international field representing 45 countries – alongside a hungry vanguard of younger local rivals – the Ireland-based veteran proved that racing intelligence and pure heart can still dismantle youth.
Benedicto’s day started in deficit. Falling far behind during the choppy, overcast 1.9km swim leg, he was forced to play a grueling game of catch-up.
"I came out of the water with a big gap to close," said Benedicto. "I knew I had to empty the tank on the bike (90kms) just to put myself back in contention, especially during that brutal final climb."
The gamble paid off, but the real magic happened on the asphalt. Channeling his legendary, scorching run from his 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 Cebu victory, Benedicto unleashed a tactical masterclass over the final 21km run, exploding into a devastating finishing kick in the final 5 kilometers.
"During the run, I paced myself early on, but once I hit the final 10 kilometers, I just started pouring it on – pushing harder and harder with every stride," said Benedicto. "Then, I heard the crowd roaring. With about 5 kilometers left, I caught the leaders, dug deep into whatever reserves I had left, and just flew to the finish."
Benedicto crossed the line in four hours, 40 minutes and 38 seconds. Russian Ilya Fedorov clocked four hours and 41 minutes and 50 seconds to finish second while Geir Omarsson of Iceland placed third in 04:44:49.
If Benedicto’s race was a gritty thriller, Quiambao’s was a class in execution. Quiambao clocked five hours and 37 minutes and 14 seconds to secure the women’s championship in the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc.
She nipped Mitsuki Tanaka-Tan of Japan, who came up short in 05:37:21, while Anne Nuñez clocked five hours and 39 minutes and 19 seconds to finish third.
“The race went well, but it was incredibly exhausting,” said Quiambao in Filipino, admitting she had a tough time across all three legs. “Sometimes, your body just doesn’t cooperate, no matter how intense your training was. But I’m just glad I managed to finish it.”
The victory completed a hat-trick for Quiambao. Having already swept the overall women’s and Filipino Elite titles at IRONMAN 70.3 Davao City and secured a historic win at the inaugural 5150 Camiguin, her Subic Bay performance cemented her status as the absolute toast of Philippine triathlon.
Also held were the Sunrise Sprint and Super Sprint, the side events of the triathlon festival backed by Subic Bay, MPTC, NLEX, SCTEX, NLEX Connector, PSC, TIEZA, NST-IAC, ROKA, Amlan, 2GO, GU, Santé, Teresa Marble, Manila Bulletin, Tempo, One Sports, Cignal, and Sportograf.com, with support from Oman, HOKA, Breitling, AG1, Hyperice, Rouvy and Zoot.
Darell Bada topped the Sunrise Sprint (750m swim-20km bike-5km run) (16-19) in 01:10:44, edging Lorenzo Claur (01:12:04) and Franco Gabriel (01:21:50), while Yvaine Osias ruled the women’s side in 01:29:28. Juan Miguel Tayag dominated the men’s 20-24 in 01:09:29 while Ma. Bernadeth Oliverio clinched the women’s title in 01:53:02.
James Van Ramoga reigned in the Sunrise Super Sprint (400m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run), clocking 00:39:37 to nip Isaiah Flores (00:48:12) and Rowell Bada (00:50:11) in the men’s side, while Airen Jin Vergara timed 00:53:17 to claim the women’s diadem over Andrea Concepcion (01:03:54) and Patricia de Belen (01:07:07).
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